BURUNDI: Quarantine order locks-out poll observers

Burundi has told the regional bloc East African Community (EAC) that any observers sent to monitor its general elections will have to be quarantined for 14 days on arrival to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The elections are only nine days away and the order effectively bars observers from scrutinising the voting process.

Burundi has proposed that EAC’s staff who are already in the country take up the role of observers, according to a letter written by Isabelle Ndahayo, the minister responsible East African Community affairs.

The country has also declined to allow UN and civil society observers to monitor the elections.