More than five million eligible voters in the east African nation of Burundi headed to the polls Wednesday to choose a successor to longtime President Pierre Nkurunziza. The country is holding its first competitive presidential election since a 1993 civil war, with Nkurunziza stepping down after 15 years in power. But political analysts and rights groups say few Burundians expect the vote, which has already been marred by violence and rights abuses, to be free and fair. His time in office has been marred by allegations of human rights abuses and his controversial decision to seek a third term in 2015. Wednesday’s vote is also being conducted amid an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Burundi, which has had only 42 confirmed cases and one confirmed death among an estimated 11 million citizens. The electoral commission is expected to announce the presidential poll results next week.
SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES