Amid accusation of rigging by the leading opposition challenger, Burundi’s election commission declared the governing party’s candidate, Evariste Ndayishimiye, the winner of the country’s presidential election.
According to the commission, Ndayishimiye, a retired army general, won 68.72 percent of the votes in last week’s ballot. While Agathon Rwasa, the main opposition leader, received 24.19 percent. There was a turnout of 88 percent. Since Ndayishimiye received more than 50 percent of the vote, he avoided a runoff.
Ndayishimiye was picked to succeed outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza following his controversial decision to step down.
Therence Manirambona, spokesman for the opposition National Freedom Council (CNL) said the party boycotted the announcement of results. Manirambona on behalf CNL claimed allegations of massive fraud during Wednesday’s election and the counting process. He said: “We have all the evidence and the real figures of these elections. We will seek justice,”
Before the officials results came in, Rwasa had already alleged foul play, saying early numbers showing his CNL party heading for a bruising defeat were a “fantasy”.
Related: Burundi goes to the polls as Pierre Nkurunziza steps down
According to Pierre Claver Kazihise the election commission chairman, the turnout for the election was massive and peaceful. 87.7 percent of registered voters turned out to cast their ballots in the elections.
First democratic transfer in 58 years for Burundi
The May 20 vote, which was contested by seven presidential hopefuls, is meant to usher in the first democratic transfer of power in 58 years of independence.
There were few international election monitors on Wednesday after the government said they would have to spend 14 days in quarantine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Rwasa already hinted he would appeal to the Constitutional Court, though he considers the process imperfect. The final election results will be declared by the Constitutional Court on June 4. Ndayishimiye is expected to be sworn in for a seven-year term in late August, when Nkurunziza’s term ends.
It is unclear whether Ndayishimiye would be able to rule free from interference by Nkurunziza. This is because Nkurunziza was elevated in February by Parliament to the rank of supreme guide for patriotism. He will also remain chairman of the party’s highly influential council of elders.
Burundi has been increasingly isolated since the 2015 election, when eruptions of violence left at least 1,200 dead and saw 400,000 flee the country. Persisting turmoil has led foreign donors to cut ties, further scuttling the economy of Burundi, one of the poorest country’s in the world.
