African Union says election ‘not free’

The African Union stood down its election observers in Burundi, saying yesterday’s parliamentary election would be neither free nor fair, as the speaker of parliament said he had fled after being threatened and heavy gunfire echoed across the capital.

Residents of the capital Bujumbura reported hearing the sound of grenade explosions and heavy machinegun fire in northern and southern districts, after a night in which at least three people were killed.

Burundi has been in turmoil since April, when President Pierre Nkurunziza said he would seek a third term, exacerbating months of protests and triggering an abortive military coup last month. Opposition boycott Opposition parties were boycotting yesterday’s vote and the presidential election on July 15 in protest at Nkurunziza’s move, which they say is unconstitutional, and at rising political violence.

“Noting that the necessary conditions are not met for the organisation of free, fair, transparent and credible elections ... the AU Commission will not observe the local and parliamentary elections,” Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the commission’s chairwoman, said in a statement.

The European Union and the influential Catholic Church have already stood down their observers for the same reasons.

Dlamini Zuma appealed to the government and all other parties to “take a full measure of the dangers threatening their country”.

Parliamentary speaker Pie Ntavyohanyuma said he been threatened after opposing Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term.