Burundi Voters Back Extending Presidential Terms in Referendum
- Constitutional changes supported by 73.3% of voters, body says
- Opponents say Nkurunziza may now renew mandate, rule til 2034
Pierre Nkurunziza in Buye, northern Burundi, on May 17, 2018.
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Burundian voters backed sweeping constitutional changes including extending presidential terms to seven years, setting the stage for Pierre Nkurunziza to continue ruling the East African country until 2034.
The proposed changes were backed by 73.3 percent of people who cast a vote in the May 17 referendum, the head of the electoral committee, Pierre Claver Ndayicariye, told a briefing Monday in the capital, Bujumbura. About 19.3 percent voted “no,” while 4.1 percent of ballots were nullified and some diaspora figures weren’t available, although too small to influence the result, he said.