BURUNDI COMMISSION REJECTS FOUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

Bujumbura, BURUNDI

The Burundian National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) has rejected four candidates out of the ten who had filed for the 20 May 2020 presidential election, its chairman said on Tuesday.

Former Burundi President, Domitien Ndayizeye, for the Kira Burundi coalition

Addressing a press briefing in the Burundian commercial center Bujumbura, Pierre Claver Kazihise explained that the four candidates were rejected because they "did not meet requirements" set by the national constitution or the electoral code, and failed to give further information.

The four rejected applicants include Jacques Bigirimana for the National Liberation Forces, former President Domitien Ndayizeye for the Kira Burundi coalition, Valentin Kavakure for the FPN-Imboneza party and Anicet Niyonkuru for the Council of the Patriots party.

Kazihise said that the four candidates can appeal against the decision to the Constitutional Court within two days.

Domitien Ndayizeye representing Kira Burundi coalition was surprised to hear about the decision. He says his candidacy wasn’t accepted due to the lack of enough sponsors. He says he is going to reanalyze his candidacy file to ensure that it wasn’t changed. “As a former President, I cannot miss 200 supporters,” he says.

The same view is shared by Valentin Kavakure, presidential candidate for FPN-Imboneza party.

He says his party will appeal to the Constitutional Court. “We are surprised to hear about the decision. We were informed that our candidacy file is complete when we submitted the required documents. This is a political decision because our party is strong although it is new,” he says adding that FPN-Imboneza is committed to taking part in the legislative and communal elections.

The candidacy file of FPN-Imboneza party was rejected due to the submission of a declaration of nationality non-conformity, lack of enough sponsors that are less than 200 people, incomplete sponsors’ files and suspicious signatures on some documents.

Anicet Niyonkuru for CDP party also announces that his party will appeal to the Constitutional Court, this 10 March.

Six candidates accepted by CENI to run for the presidential race scheduled on May 20 are Evariste Ndayishimiye for ruling CNDD-FDD party, Agathon Rwasa for CNL party, Gaston Sindimwo for Uprona Party, Léonce Ngendakumana for Sahwanya Frodebu party and two independent candidates including Francis Rohero and Dieudonné Nahimana.

On May 20, Burundi will hold general elections that combine three polls—the presidential election, legislative elections and district council elections. - Africa