Search
  1. Home
  2. East Africa
  3. Burundi
  • News

I'll step down after elections, Ndayizeye says

[Burundi] President Domitien Ndayizeye, who was sworn in on 30 April to lead Burundi’s second 18-month transitional period - 30 April 2003. IRIN
President Ndayizeye is in Pretoria to discuss post election power-sharing arrangements
    BUJUMBURA

    Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye said on Friday that he would abide by the current draft constitution and not run in presidential elections scheduled tentatively for April.

    "Our duty is to respect the constitution which states that whoever led the transition period could not run in the first elections," he said on national television.

    The announcement ends heated national debate on whether to amend the draft constitution before 28 February when a referendum on it is due.

    Ndayizeye's message contradicted earlier reports in the Burundian media in which he appeared to support amendments. On Friday, he said that amendments would delay the election timetable.

    "There is no more time for further consultation," he said.

    The plebiscite was initially set for October 2004 then postponed to 26 November and then again to 22 December. In December, it was delayed yet again.

    Ndayizeye called on presidential candidates to "to enter into competition in such a way as to help develop the country."

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

    Share this article

    Our ability to deliver compelling, field-based reporting on humanitarian crises rests on a few key principles: deep expertise, an unwavering commitment to amplifying affected voices, and a belief in the power of independent journalism to drive real change.

    We need your help to sustain and expand our work. Your donation will support our unique approach to journalism, helping fund everything from field-based investigations to the innovative storytelling that ensures marginalised voices are heard.

    Please consider joining our membership programme. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact on how the world responds to crises.

    Become a member of The New Humanitarian

    Support our journalism and become more involved in our community. Help us deliver informative, accessible, independent journalism that you can trust and provides accountability to the millions of people affected by crises worldwide.

    Join