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.