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U.S. to send electoral observer mission to Burundi

Xinhua, May 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

The U.S. has expressed concern over the upsurge of violence during protests against a third term bid by President Pierre Nkurunziza, and noted that it will send to the East African nation an electoral observer mission.

The U.S. Ambassador in Bujumbura Madam Dawn Liberi revealed this Tuesday in Bujumbura a day after talks between representatives of the U.S., European Union, Switzerland and the Burundian government.

"The U.S. calls for an immediate end of use of force by police against peaceful protesters, as well as political intimidation orchestrated by Imbonerakure, a youth wing allied to the ruling party, CNDD-FDD," Liberi said.

Liberi equally noted that the closure of radio stations and blocking of social media in Burundi had increased instability in the country.

"Media freedom is essential in any democracy and should particularly be defended in a post-conflict country like Burundi," she insisted.

To organize free, fair and transparent elections, the ambassador urged Burundi government to restore ideal conditions for a democratic process to take place.

Liberi said the U.S. will send election monitors under the auspices of the center run by ex-president Jimmy Carter.

She said besides the upsurge of violence, another challenge was the rising number of people fleeing into refuge in Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

Burundi is set to organize a series of elections between May to August 2015. However, the only hope for ending the current wave of violence is the outcome of a regional summit set to be held in Dar- es-Salaam on May 13.

The summit organized by the East African Community, will be attended by Nkurunziza himself. Endi