Press Release

Belgium supports election observations in Burundi

Burundese verkiezingen in 2010Burundese verkiezingen in 2010

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo has released subsidies to support election observations in Burundi. Through two Belgian NGO's, 11.11.11 and CJP (Commission Justice et Paix), two Burundese NGO's have been identified to take up the observation of this year's communal, parliamentary and presidential elections.

The two Burundese NGO’s will observe the elections on the field while the Belgian NGO's provide support and training. With these subsidies the Burundese and Belgian NGO's will be able contribute to a free, transparent, peaceful and inclusive election process.

The two Burundese NGO’s that are identified are:

  • Coalition de la Société civile pour le Monitoring des Elections (COSOME)
  • Coalition Episcopale Justice et Paix-Burundi (CEJP Burundi)

These are the main non-gouvernamental organisations with election observation expertise in Burundi.  The two NGO's also organized election observations during the 2005 and 2010 elections. The Belgian subsidies will enable them to take up this role again with this year's elections by putting 8.000 observers on the field to monitor the forthcoming elections.