East African Community to monitor Burundi elections

The East African Community (EAC) election observer team is in Burundi to ensure a free and fair election in East African war prone country.

The team which went on Thursday 24^th June 2010 comprises of members of the East African Legislative Assembly and members of the Assembly from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. The team will be in the country from 24^th June to 3^rd July 2010.

The Deputy Secretary General of the East Africa Community in-charge of Political Federation, Beatrace Kiraso says “holding successful and peaceful elections in Burundi is of utmost importance to the Partner States and the region as a whole because lack of peace and stability in any Partner State will definitely undermine the outstanding milestones the region has so far registered.”

Kiraso who is also the former member of Parliament for Kabarole district of Western Uganda appealed to all East African Community member countries to standardize their governance systems and take keen interest in each others electoral processes to ensure a quick political integration of the East African community member countries.

Meanwhile, there are already worries in Burundi’s ongoing elections after being boycotted by all opposition political parties and the disappearance of the country’s opposition leader Agathon Rwasa who escaped to the DR Congo.

The current political situation risks putting the country back in turmoil. Rwasa is the leader of NFL – the last Burundi rebel group to put down their weapons in the long Burundi civil war.

The opposition leaders are accusing the ruling party headed by Burundi President Pierre Nkuruziza of rigging the ongoing Burundi elections.

Solomon Akugizibwe, Ultimate Media