National assembly adopts new electoral code

Burundi's National Assembly voted 163-0 on Friday, adopting a new electoral code. There were six abstentions. The code is due to be tabled before the Senate, the other chamber of the Burundian parliament, for adoption. It would then be sent to the head of state to be signed into law. During the assembly's session on Friday, 170 amendments were made to the code. These focused on the method of electing five-member councils to assist communal administrators in governing their communes - known as hills in the countryside and quarters in urban areas. Under the new code, the residents of each commune would elect council members. The five receiving the highest number of votes would form a council, and appoint an administrator to run the commune. Previously, the interior minister appointed administrators. This electoral system would also regulate ethnic balance in the appointment of communal administrators. No ethnic group would be allowed to have more than 67 of the 117 available communal-administrator posts. Friday's adoption of the code took place without any update on a revised electoral calendar for establishing a new Burundian constitution. The original calendar has been changed more than twice since its announcement; the country's electoral body, the Commission Electoral Indépendente, has since been cautious in publishing new electoral calendars. A referendum was held on 28 February in which 90 percent of Burundians voted for a new constitution, according to results announced last week by Interior Minister Simon Nyandwi. Despite the adoption of the electoral code, insecurity in the capital, Bujumbura, remains an issue. Four civilians were killed on Sunday in the Gihosha Rural neighbourhood, north of Bujumbura, when government forces came under attack. The army spokesman, Maj Adolphe Manirakiza, said the attack was probably carried out by fighters loyal to the Forces nationales de liberation (FNL) faction, led by Agathon Rwasa. Manirakiza said the FNL was trying to prove its strength on the eve of what he called "possible government negotiations" with the faction.