Election campaigns for presidential and legislative seats in
Burundi have kicked off ahead of the May 20 General Election, putting the
country at risk of suffering a surge in new Covid-19 infections from close
contact at the massive political rallies.
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| Burundi’s opposition National Freedom Council (CNL), presidential candidate Agathon Rwasa, addresses supporters during a campaign rally in Ngozi province, Burundi April 27, 2020. |
CNDD-FDD, Burundi’s ruling party
kicked off its campaigns in the nation’s new political capital Gitega on April
27 while the oppositions leader Agathon Rwasa started his campaigns in his
native home-town of Ngozi.
Outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza
introduced the CNDD-FDD presidential candidate Eavriste Ndayishimiye to
thousands of supporters describing him as a “lucky man.”
“We from the CNDD-FDD named the term
from 2015 to 2020 God’s term because we went through many challenges and
overcame them,” said President Nkurunziza.
Nkurunziza’s decision to run for
another term in office in 2015 sparked violence across Burundi which saw
hundreds lose their lives while thousands fled to neighbouring countries.
The ruling party’s leader Mr.
Ndayishimiye vowed to unite Burundians and end ethnic tensions that have
crippled the country for decades.
However, the close proximity of
people at political rallies has sparked concerns that coronavirus infections
could spike in the country.
The World Health Organization has
advised against mass gatherings such as those in political rallies.
The landlocked country has closed its
borders to try and stop spread of the virus, only letting in cargo trucks.
Residents have also been advised to
wash their hands frequently and avoid handshakes, but life is largely carrying
on as normal.
The country has 11 reported cases and
one death so far, even as global figures soared to nearly 3.3 million
infections and more than 234,000 deaths as at May 1.
Four of the positive cases have fully
recovered.
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