BURUNDI’s ruling party candidate, retired general Evariste Ndayishimiye, has won the presidential election with 69% of votes cast, the electoral commission said on Monday, after accusations of rigging by the leading opposition challenger.
The commission said opposition candidate Agathon Rwasa received 24% of votes. There was a turnout of 88%.
Commission chairman Pierre Claver Kazihise said the turnout was “massive” and the election was peaceful.
The May 20 vote to replace President Pierre Nkurunziza, however, was preceded by political violence including the arrest, torture and murder of opposition activists, according to a local rights group.
There was also controversy over holding the election during the coronavirus crisis.
Hundreds of Burundians were killed and hundreds of thousands fled into exile after unrest surrounding the last election in 2015, when the opposition accused Nkurunziza of violating a peace deal by standing for a third term.
Rwasa has previously said he will take
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