Decision day for Burundian electorate

To vote or not to vote in an election in which there is no serious challenger to the incumbent president? That was the question facing Burundi's 3.8 million voters when polling stations opened early on Tuesday morning. Overnight violence which left three people dead - two policemen and an opposition official - marred the start of the election in which President Pierre Nkurunziza is seeking to win a third consecutive term in office. The opposition says the constitution allows for only two terms. Nkurunziza's supporters say that since he was chosen by lawmakers - and not elected - for his first term in 2005, he is entitled to run again.

By midday turnout was low in most areas and voters interviewed for DW were divided over the merits of the election.

One man in the capital Bujumbura said he was not planning to vote since his preferred candidate was not taking part, a reference to the decision by several opposition candidates to boycott the election.

"As a citizen of Burundi, it is my duty to vote," another said. "It is no secret that the opposition and the government have different opinions on several issues, but voting is a duty, even when there is some shooting."

At least 80 people were killed in demonstrations in the two-and-a-half months leading up to this election.

Democracy improving?

The chairman of the ruling CNDD-FDD party, Pascal Nyabenda, spoke to DW after casting his vote in Musenyi in the western province of Bubenza. He said the election had gone ahead peacefully and - contradicting international news agency reports - there had been a high turnout. "It is good that the election is taking place as this had not been entirely clear and there had been postponements," Nyabenda said, adding that his party was prepared to discuss forming a government of national unity.

President Nkurunziza, who turned up on a bicycle to vote in his home district of Buye, said the elections proved that democracy was improving in the country. There, turnout was higher with voters queuing in long lines.

On Tuesday, the US questioned the credibility of the elections. "The government's insistence on going forward with presidential elections risks its legitimacy in the eyes of its citizens and of the international community," US State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

In an interview with DW's AfricaLink program, Benjamin Chemouni of the London School of Economics said that Nkurunziza's authority will have been weakened by the poll as it was preceded by considerable violence, a failed coup and international criticism.

Chemouni said the East African Community (EAC), which had called for the election to be postponed from the original date of 15 July, was worried about the possibility of instability in the region, underlined by the exodus of thousands of refugees to Rwanda and Tanzania where the situation was exacerbated by an outbreak of cholera. "I think what the leaders want is stability at any cost and if stability is better provided by Nkurunziza staying, I am sure they are ready to support this option," Chemouni said.

Fear of reprisals

Looking ahead to the time after the elections, Chemouni said much would depend on the reaction of the international community which provides more than 50 percent of Burundi's state budget. "If Burundi becomes isolated after the elections, it will be difficult for the country to sustain economic growth and foster development," he said, adding that he did not see much support within the African Union for limiting to two the number of terms a president may serve. This is the issue on which the dispute between the Burundian government and opposition hinges. Chemouni said that although Rwandan President Paul Kagame had not made any public announcement that he would seek re-election, "parliament is in the process of changing the constitution" and according to the media, "which is not entirely free, everyone is calling for Kagame to run for a third term."

Meanwhile, in Burundi, many of those who did vote then spent some time trying to scrub off the indelible ink used to mark their fingers. They were scared of reprisals from opposition supporters who had called for a boycott by voters.