Police accuse CNL members of disrupting electoral campaign

The electoral campaign for the next elections scheduled for May 20, 2020 has been taking place across the country for two weeks. “Cases of violence have decreased during the second week of the campaign,” said Pierre Nkurikiye, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security at a press conference held on 12 May, 2020. Compared to the 1st week of campaign he, however, deplores the increase in cases of electoral fraud by holding illegal electoral campaigns.

Pierre Nkurikiye, spokesman for the Public Security Minstry “These bodily injuries were mainly perpetrated mainly by CNL members,”

Nkurikiye also denounces cases of violation of the traffic code namely the use of overloaded cars with passengers and high speed. “We are concerned about inflammatory remarks delivered by CNL members in Nyarusange commune of Gitega province in central Burundi against CNDD-FDD members and police officers in Buhiga commune of Karuzi province in the center of Burundi,” said Nkurikiye.

He also reports cases of attempted electoral fraud perpetrated by CNL members in Musanga locality in Makamba province of southern Burundi on 4 May, in Gahororo locality Kiremba commune of Ngozi province in the north of Burundi on 9 May, in Taba locality in Nyabikere commune of Karuzi the same day and in Bugendana commune of Gitega province in central Burundi. According to Nkurikiye, the same crimes were committed on 10 May in Kirama of Muramvya province in central Burundi.

He also accuses CNL members of perpetrating the voluntary bodily injuries against members of CNDD-FDD youth wing. These crimes were committed in Jarama in Buyengero commune of Rumonge province in southwest Burundi on 5 May, Gitaba in Makamba province in southern Burundi on 6 May as well as in Ruvumera and Muvumu localities in Makamba on 6 and 4 May respectively.

They also destroyed crop fields of CNDD-FDD members in Gitega and Muyinga provinces, according to the spokesman for the public security who accuses them of having demolished a house in Cankuzi province in eastern Burundi. He also mentioned a case of a member of Frodebu who had committed acts of violence and two cases where CNDD-FDD members were involved in acts of violence.

“More than 95% of the acts of violence reported during the ongoing electoral campaign are committed by CNL members,” he says adding that «These bodily injuries were mainly perpetrated by CNL members. The victims are 30 CNDD-FDD members and 5 CNL members.” The police arrested 95 alleged perpetrators of these crimes. They are under investigation. Térence Manirambona, Spokesperson for CNL party accused the Ministry of Public Security and of Home Affairs of being partial. “We are accused of committing violence while we are harassed and attacked by other members of political parties,” he says. Térence Manirambona calls on the administrative and police officials to be partial by equally treating members of political parties.