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Programmes Home > Burundi Home

July 2010
Burundi Elections Surveyed by Media Synergy
Journalists at a Media Synergy training prepare to cover the elections throughout Burundi
2010 marks an exciting elections period for Burundi, with communal and
presidential elections already completed, and senatorial and parliamentary
elections coming this month. The communal elections, held on May 24, 2010
had impressive voter turnout and offered hope for the country's advancement in
the democratic process. The positive atmosphere of Election Day was shortlived,
however. Allegations of fraud, an increase in political tension throughout
the country, and eruptions of violence overshadowed progress and reminded
observers of Burundi's fragility. All of the opposition parties boycotted the
Presidential elections, held on June 28, 2010. While voter turnout remained
notable in rural areas, it was quite limited in Bujumbura.
Throughout this period of elections, the Media Synergy, a partnership of over
sixteen media outlets, including Search for Common Ground (SFCG), has
worked to monitor elections and provide accurate and unbiased information to
citizens and voters. The Media Synergy, first launched for the 2005 elections,
aims to reduce misinformation and contribute to broader participation through
its reporting. Both SFCG and the Media Synergy as a whole are deeply
committed to non-violent problem solving, and have been dismayed by the
increased incidence of violence in Burundi.
Despite the challenges it faced, the Media Synergy
effectively contributed to professional coverage of both
elections. Prior to the elections, SFCG and The Association
of Burundi Broadcasters (ABR) organised a briefing session
to prepare the participating journalists for election
coverage, highlighting their obligation to provide
comprehensive, accurate and balanced reporting. As part
of the Synergy, 90 journalists reported on communal
elections from across the country. During the presidential
campaign period, reporters followed the events and
gathered citizens’ opinions on a local level about the rising
political tension. 70 journalists were similarly stationed
throughout the country during the presidential poll.
A partner station takes part in broadcasting election information
For each election, Synergy journalists closely monitored
the voting process and gave their information to a joint
editorial team in Bujumbura. The editorial team used
journalists’ dispatches as well as information from the
Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to
produce over 33 broadcast hours of elections coverage in
Kirundi, French, English and Kiswahili. Broadcasts, taking
the form of 15 and 30 minute reports, covered the opening and closing hours of voting stations, new decisions
taken by CENI during and after the elections, security problems, and the dilemma facing voters about whether to
vote in the presidential election, where they were weighing encouragement against physical threats.
In forming Media Synergy, the Burundian media once again demonstrated professionalism and commitment to
play a constructive role in the country’s future. Despite the challenges that the communal and presidential elections
have illustrated, the Synergy is looking forward to continuing to play an important role in reporting on the
upcoming parliamentary and senatorial elections, scheduled for July 23rd and 28th, respectively. The Media
Synergy is constantly revising its strategy to help the process remain as free, transparent, and articipatory as
possible.
Poor Planning by the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI)
Originally scheduled for Friday, May 21, 2010, a delay in the distribution of ballot papers postponed
the communal elections. Late on Thursday, May 20th, CENI announced it would move the voting to
Sunday. According to the government, a significant number of polling stations had not yet received
ballot papers, which were printed by independent authorities in South Africa. The government did not
specify whether the forms had reached Burundi. On Friday afternoon the elections were again
rescheduled for Monday, May 24, 2010.
The postponements impacted Media Synergy logistics. SFCG and its partners had already sent more
than 90 reporters into the field and arranged for their transportation and accommodation. An ad hoc
meeting of different donors and partners collaboratively decided to send additional funding to support
the journalists in the field. The Synergy thanks its partners and donors for their support and flexibility in
the face of constantly evolving circumstances.
Communal Election Controversy Leads to Presidential Boycott
Voters waiting peacefully for their turn to cast their
ballots at one polling station in Bujumbura, the
capital.
Communal elections were generally free, peaceful and
transparent, according to domestic and international
observers. The police and army successfully kept the
peace and protected voters and electoral material. The
Burundian media, helped by the high-level of
cooperation established by the Media Synergy,
masterfully served as a democratic watchdog and
helped increase peaceful turnout at the polls, reporting
irregularities and giving instructions to CENI agents at
the provincial and communal level.
However, the situation deteriorated substantially after
the election results were reported. Opposition parties
that lost the communal elections accused the winning
National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Forces
for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) of fraud.
Grouped under the Alliance of Democrats for Change
(ADC), the thirteen opposition parties lodged complaints with provincial election commissions, demanded new
communal elections, and CENI’s replacement. Most of the concerns raised were determined to be too minor to
necessitate new elections, but the failure to address them led to increased tensions. The ADC subsequently
boycotted the presidential race.
On June 6th, Edouard Nduwimana, Minister for Home Affairs, notified opposition parties that because they had
withdrawn from the presidential election they would not be able to hold rallies or demonstrations until the
presidential elections were over. During campaign periods, only the parties participating in elections can hold
rallies. Opposition parties strongly voiced their objection to this restriction and tensions continued to rise.
Minor communal election irregularities reported by the Synergy
-
Attempts at tampering with the election and its
results. Two days before the election, a grenade
exploded at a military post in Rutana province
where election material was kept.
- Missing ballot papers on election day, which
delayed the voting process and extended polling
hours.
- Attempts to influence voters by some members of political parties who whispered whom to vote for
or brandished political signs.
- Delays in reporting results to CENI, delaying the
counting process.
- Voter confusion. There was no procedure in place to address voters going to polling stations where they had not registered. There was also some
confusion around procuration (voting by proxy).
Security Deteriorates as Presidential Polls Approach
A joint editorial team prepares the News
Bulletin during the Presidential Elections.
Rising political tensions were soon accompanied by
an increase in political violence, making the
presidential elections especially challenging to voters
and the Media Synergy. The Media Synergy
adjusted to continue bringing unbiased and pertinent
information to citizens, despite security challenges
and the lack of opposition candidates, preventing a
truly democratic race. The opposition parties’
boycot t , grenade explos ions , a ser ies of
assassinations, and threats against voters, all limited
participation, which fell to 77 percent, and called the
elections into question. Current President Pierre
Nkurunziza won the election easily with over 90
percent of the vote.
Perhaps more troubling than the lack of opposition
candidates, however, has been the increase in
SFCG in Burundi thanks the following donors for their support of
Media Synergy:
violence surrounding the presidential elections.
During the presidential campaign, 98 grenade
explosions were recorded in the country, killing
seven and injuring at least 55. Over 40 political
offices, most of them belonging to the ruling party,
have been burned. Police investigations have not
yet identified the responsible parties.
A few days before the election, Agathon Rwasa,
leader of the FNL (National Liberation Forces), the
last group to retire from fighting during the civil
war, fled Burundi. While Rwasa claimed he fled to
protect himself from a government crackdown,
there has been speculation that he has withdrawn
to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to take
up arms once again.
On Election Day and the following days, tensions
continued to give way to violence. 18 grenades
exploded in 7 provinces between June 27 and 28,
3 shooting incidents occurred in Bubanza
province, and political offices continued to be
burned.
Although the communal and presidential elections
represented an important potential step towards
democracy and the solidification of peace, their
eventual impact remains unclear. While the huge voter
turnout during the communal elections was positive,
the accusations, tensions, and security problems that
followed have underlined the continuing fragility of
Burundi. They have served to reinforce the importance
and necessity of a long-term commitment to conflict
transformation and peace-building, work to which
SFCG and the Media Synergy remain dedicated.
Taking Note of Media Synergy
A recent Foreign Policy Magazine article praised the
Media Synergy's work. When SFCG's National Director,
Adrien Sindayigaya,was asked to comment on the
importance of the project, he noted:
"Media, when they are single, are fragile. When
you are trying to out some political actors, it's easy
for them to say, 'Oh, you must just be against us.'
But when there is a huge number of journalists who
say, 'We know this,' or 'We witnessed this,' it's
difficult to compel such a group" to toe a given
line."
The full text can be found at: www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/06/25/whats_the_frequency_nkurunziza
Search for Common Ground in Burundi
B.P. 6180 27 Avenue de l'Amitie
Bujumbura, Burundi
Phones:
+ (257) 217 7194 / + (257) 217 7195
Fax:
(257) 217-189
E-mail:
burundi@sfcg.org
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