Catholics Bishop's statement on Burundi election and more
Briefing Isuue #95, Wednesday, May 27, 2020
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Dear Readers,
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Burundi positively assesses the conduct of the triple ballot in complete safety but denounces irregularities. They deployed nearly 2,800 observers to different polling stations.
Catholic bishops regret that there were voters in some polling stations who voted more than once. They condemn the exclusion of agents and observers from the places where the votes are counted, the intimidation and constraints on voters by officials who accompanied them to the voting booths.
The triple ballot was also characterized, according to the statement by the intrusion of unauthorized persons into the places where the votes were counted and the confiscation of the credentials and telephones of certain observers.
" We condemn all injustices and we refuse any recourse to the path of violence."
Catholic bishops call for calm and recommend to all those who feel that their rights have been violated, to privilege authorized ways to be restored to their rights.
The diplomatic community reacts
A group of heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Burundi, the Ambassadors of:
South Africa, Germany, Belgium, Canada,
China, Egypt, France, Japan, Kenya,
Nigeria, Uganda, the Netherlands,
the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the United Republic of Tanzania,
Turkey, the European Union, Chargé d'Affaires of the United States,
the Democratic Republic of Congo,
the Executive Secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the United Nations Coordinating Resident
— in a press release published on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, ask the national actors to avoid any violence. The press release mentioned that they take note of the provisional results of the presidential and legislative elections proclaimed by the Ceni on Monday.
COVID19: The latest
The COMESA region represents 29.19% (34,606) of the total cases reported in Africa (118,535). While some of the Member States reported a surge in the number of new cases in the earlier stages, these numbers have reduced and in some cases such as Eritrea, Mauritius and Seychelles have reported zero active cases for a while.
When the scale of the pandemic escalated in other parts of the world, these countries from the onset established restrictive measures to minimize the spread of the virus. In Mauritius, for example, flights from China and Europe were restricted.
Mandatory screening at airports and other public places was introduced. These measures and strict adherence to guidelines by citizens ensured that the spread of the virus was contained and, in addition, prevented community transmission.
In Seychelles, all citizens and residents were not allowed to travel outside the country, all travel to the country by foreigners was stopped from 10th March 2020 and no cruise ships were allowed entry in its waters. These early measures limited the spread of additional infections from outside the country.
Eritrea on its part enforced a total lockdown. It should also be noted that the relatively low population and the geographical positioning of Mauritius and Seychelles gave them a comparative advantage in containing the spread of the virus as it was also easier for them to close their borders.
The strict adherence especially in Mauritius and Seychelles has been supported by a highly literate population.
The early response in these countries was also supported by enacting an appropriate legal framework to support the implementation of some of the measures. In Mauritius, a COVID-19 Bill was passed to guide the enforcement of social distancing, wearing of masks in public spaces, restriction of movement, among others.
Get more in COMESA situational Report here
Have a wonderful day!
Fabrice Iranzi
Editor, RegionWeek.com
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