AFRICA/BURUNDI - Legislative elections: former Hutu rebel groups expected to win

Bujumbura (Fides Service)- The former Hutu rebel group National Council for the Defence of Democracy- Forces for the Defence of Democracy CNDD-FDD is in the lead as votes are counted after yesterday’s election (see Fides 4 July 2005). According to the electoral Commission CNDD-FDD is in the lead with between 60% and 80% of the votes, with 60% of the ballots counted
CNDD-FDD already won local elections on 3 June with 57% and is expected to win these political elections. CNDD-FDD is ahead of Front for the Defence of Democracy (FRODEBU), which also represents the Hutu majority and the Union for National Progress, the main party of the Tutsi minority.
The elections are of great importance since Burundi’s new President will be elected by a two thirds majority of the MPs voted yesterday.
Burundi is trying to find a way out of the civil war which exploded in 1993 between government army controlled by Tutsi minority officers and rebels militia groups formed by Hutus the majority ethnic group in the country. The Hutus want greater representation in state institutions.
“If the former Hutu rebel formation wins Burundi’s political panorama which ch’ange considerably” a local observer in the capital Bujumbura told Fides. “However for peace to be restored the last Hutu rebel group National Liberation Forces FNL still needs to be convinced to hand over its weapons. The international community must continue to sustain the peace process to guarantee real opportunities for development, particularly for young Burundians” the source told Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 5/7/2005 righe 26 parole 300)