Key takeaways from a busy Election Day in Burundi
The Briefing Issue #91, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
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Social media disrupted
When first polling stations opened their doors early in the morning of May 20th Burundians reported problems with social media. There was no way to access Facebook WhatsApp or Twitter from Burundi unless you had installed a VPN. The information was later confirmed by NetBlocks a civil society group working at the intersection of digital rights, cyber-security, and internet governance.
Access Now, a UK based organization that defends and extends the digital rights of users at risk around the world, together with 30 international human rights advocacy groups that form the KeepItOn coalition, on Monday, May 18, 2020, sent a joint letter to the government of Burundi to ensure open, secure and stable access to the internet and social media platforms throughout the country’s presidential elections scheduled for May 20, 2020.
The signatories appealed to the authorities in Burundi to consider that the internet, including social media and other digital communication platforms, remains accessible throughout the elections.
“It is our hope that the authorities in Burundi will recognize the negative effect of internet shutdowns and social media blackouts on elections and refrain from clamping on these platforms during the upcoming elections. A network disruption in the course of elections raises doubts and brings into question the credibility of the outcome of elections,” says Felicia Anthonio, Campaigner, and #KeepItOn Lead at Access Now.
What leaders told the media
President Pierre Nkurunziza
President Pierre Nkurunziza spoke to the media after casting a vote in Province Ngozi. He said that the elections were an important step in consolidating peace.
"These elections bring a better future for the Burundian population, it is a big step for the whole country, the future is better for all Burundians. It is not the elections that scare. The elections are only there to give us the responsible leaders with the good programs, we must always accept the verdict of the ballot boxes ” - President Pierre Nkurunziza.
Evariste Ndayishimiye, Cndd Fdd party Candidate
In Giheta commune of Gitega province, the presidential candidate of the Cndd Fdd party, Évariste Ndayishimiye in an interview with the local media, he said:
"The elections are held in security, whoever wants to disturb them will pay dearly."
He appreciated how the population and the politicians behaved during the electoral process. He asked them to peacefully wait for the results of the ballot boxes.
Agathon Rwasa, CNL Party Candidate
Speaking to the Press, Agathon Rwasa, said that Burundians will be witnesses to change despite all the hassles.
“I appeal to everyone's responsibility. This Burundi has the right to a better and brighter future. It is through the polls that we need to define our roadmap to a better tomorrow. Let everyone vote responsibly. That we don’t vote just to vote but let us achieve the change we aspire to through the ballot box. ”
In the commercial city of Bujumbura, a Reuters witness said lines were long in the morning in Musaga neighborhood, where the opposition is popular.
"The voting is really taking place smoothly and I voted for change but I am pessimistic about the counting of votes," said one resident who did not wish to be named.
Major Incidents
In a report by the Ministry of Public Security, spokesman Mr. Pierre Nkurukiye said that there are activists of the CNL party, specifically the agents who were arrested, in certain provinces of the country.
"In Gatumba, the representatives of the CNL party arrived late at the polling stations and suggested to stop the process for them to verify the ballot boxes. These agents were arrested and referred to court.
In the west of the country, Pierre Nkurikiye indicates that one of the CNL agents at the Rusumo polling center in Muyinga province was caught with a letter of accreditation which is not his own.
As for the center of the country, on the voting center in Nyabisindu, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security informed that an activist of the CNL party was arrested for having come to vote with the specimen ballots of CNL party. He also added that in Giheta, on the Bubu polling center, two CNL party activists were apprehended campaigning on the waiting line.
A journalist with a weapon in his car.
In Muyira, two suspicious cars tried to disrupt the electoral process, but the police immediately intervened. One of these two cars, driven by Isanganiro radio journalist Evariste Nzikobanyanka.
According to the police, the journalist had a weapon in his car. “ The incident happened at 7:00 a.m. "Said Pierre Nkurikiye, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security.
Evariste Nzikobanyanka, a reporter for the private radio station Isanganiro, is actively wanted by the police since the morning of May 20, 2020.
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