Opposition leaders in Burundi have been barred from participating in the upcoming elections, as the country prepares for local elections in June, according to a statement from their party on Wednesday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) ruled on Tuesday that candidates from the four-party Burundi for All coalition, recognized by the interior ministry in December, would not be allowed to run.
This decision stems from the fact that three members of the coalition belong to the suspended opposition party, the National Freedom Council (CNL), which violates electoral laws.
The CNL stated that the three excluded candidates are Agathon Rwasa, Euphrasie Mutenzinka, and Anatole Karorero.
Rwasa, a former militia leader and the presidential runner-up in the 2020 election, was removed from his position as leader of CNL in March, a decision he has challenged in court.
Political analysts believe the government’s actions are aimed at keeping Rwasa, a prominent opposition figure, out of the electoral race.
The move follows a December decree that set strict eligibility requirements for independent candidates, including a one-year absence from party membership.
Critics have argued that these rules were specifically designed to block Rwasa from running.
Burundi, under President Evariste Ndayishimiye, has seen a gradual improvement in its international relations, after years of isolation under the previous regime of Pierre Nkurunziza.
However, the country continues to face criticism for its human rights record, with ongoing repression against journalists, activists, and political opponents.
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