Burundi Adopts Best Electoral Practices from Sierra Leone

Burindi Delegation in Sierra Leone

A  sixteen man delegation from Burundi, led by Home Affairs Minister, Edouard Nduwimana participated in a Dialogue Exchange  Programme ( DEP)  with 30 Sierra Leonean  counterparts in Freetown from the 18th – 21st August, 2009. The aim of this meeting was to enhance experience sharing, incorporation of best practices and insight into the inputs of the Peace Building Commission in the elections in Sierra Leone so as to achieve a peaceful, fair and transparent 2010 elections in Burundi.

During the colloquium at Hill Valley Hotel in Freetown, Sierra Leonean counterparts shared their electoral experiences highlighting the inputs of the Peace Building Commission (PBC) to the electoral process.  Challenges of Burundi’s socio-political landscape and the successes and weaknesses of the 2005 elections were analyzed and strategies proposed for a credible 2010 elections.  A communiqué was developed and adopted with several recommendations which include among other things: the establishment of an effective and independent electoral management body; an independent and impartial judiciary; a proactive civil society; credible electoral security and; an active and knowledgeable women and youth engagement.

In his statement, the UN Deputy Representative of the Secretary General in Sierra Leone assured the Burundi delegation that the UN Peace Building Commission will replicate its commitment to Burundi’s 2010 Elections as it has done in Sierra Leone. Pierre Claner Ndayicarige, President of the Independent National Electoral Commission of Burundi expressed admiration for the recent successful elections in Sierra Leone and the inputs of the PBC to the entire process.

Ngollo Katta, Sierra Leone National Elections Watch Spokesperson lauded the DEP initiative especially for its south-south focus. He continued that Sierra Leone and Burundi share lot of similarities which includes the occurrence of wars and the establishment of the pilot case of the PBC in 2005. He concluded that the opportunity to learn both countries experiences with insightful dialogue will also be useful in the implementation of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism in both countries. “Experiences shared and knowledge gained in this colloquium will be useful for our elections in 2012”, a Sierra Leonean woman activist opined.

The Burundi delegation comprise Ministers, officials of  the Independent National Electoral Commission, journalists, civil servants, civil society Organizations, women’s and youth groups. Whilst the Sierra Leonean counterpart includes representatives from National Electoral Commission, Political Party Registration Commission, Office of the National Security, Sierra Leone Police, Media, civil society organizations, women’s and youth groups. Since the war was declared over in 2002, Sierra Leone has conducted successful presidential, parliamentary and local elections in 2002, 2007 and 2008. Elections are due in 2012. Following the Arusha Peace Accord in 2000, Burundi has conducted one successful election in 2005 and will be conducting another in 2010.

In 2005, the UN chose Sierra Leone and Burundi as pilot case in the establishment of a UN Peace Building Commission among other things, to provide tremendous support to the rebuilding of governance structures in post-conflict countries. In recent elections in Sierra Leone,  the PBC provide substantial support to NEC, PPRC, Sierra Leone Police and Civil Society Organizations. This colloquium was facilitated by the America Friend Service Committee in Burundi in collaboration with NEW in Sierra Leone.

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