Burundi leader up for 2nd term
2010-04-25 18:50
Bujumbura - Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader and born-again Christian, has been chosen as the ruling party's candidate for June elections.
The 45-year-old Hutu was elected unanimously on Saturday to run for a second term in the June 28 vote, by 1 669 delegates who travelled to the Cndd-FDD congress from across the tiny central African country.
"God has the number one place in our party," Nkurunziza told a cheering crowd in the Burundian language Kirundi. "And just as God did when we were elected in 2005, no one can prevent His will from being done once more."
Backed by an Evangelist choir, Nkurunziza sang and danced on stage with his 4-year-old son, before driving off in an open-top car to the cheers of thousands of supporters.
Nkurunziza was elected president by the Burundian parliament in 2005 as the country emerged from 13 years of civil war that pitted the Tutsi-dominated army against Hutu rebel movements.
From May through September, the country holds a marathon series of polls including the presidential vote in which Nkurunziza will seek re-election, this time by universal suffrage.
Party leader Jeremie Ngendakumana said Nkurunziza was chosen for his record on promoting free primary school education, healthcare for pregnant women and infants, and for building schools, roads and orchards.
"I am confident, I am certain our candidate is going to win in the first round, since he is a president close to the people who has made a contribution to development," Ngendakumana told AFP.
Nkurunziza will be facing close to a dozen rivals in the election, including the main opposition leader Domitien Ndayizeye, also a Hutu, and the former Hutu rebel leader Agathon Rwasa.
Human Rights Watch has urged Burundian authorities to prevent pre-election violence, as fierce competition between the ruling party and four or five strong opposition movements fuels tension between militants.
- SAPA
