The Republic of Burundi held several elections in 2005. The polls returned the nation to constitutional democratic rule after a devastating civil war that arose from long-standing ethnic tensions between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority. Elections in Burundi gives information on election and election results in Burundi. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Burundi Civil War is driven by ethnic rivalries between Burundis Hutu and Tutsi tribal factions. ... Hutu is the name given to one of the three ethnic groups occupying Burundi and Rwanda. ... The Tutsi are one of three native peoples of the nations of Rwanda and Burundi in central Africa, the other two being the Twa and the Hutu. ...

Four of the polls (28 February Constitutional Referendum, 3 June Communal, 4 July National Assembly, and 23 September 'Hills' Elections) were direct elections while two (29 July Senatorial and 19 August Presidential Elections) were indirect, as they were chosen by communal councilors and the parliament, respectively. February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... June 3 is the 154th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (155th in leap years), with 211 days remaining. ... July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. ... September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... July 29 is the 210th day (211th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 155 days remaining. ... August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

See the list of political parties in Burundi for information about the parties. A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power, usually by participating in elections. ...

28 February 2005 Constitutional Referendum

The new constitution guarantees representation for both ethnic groups by setting out the share of posts they will have in parliament and government and the army, which had been dominated by Tutsis since independence. Most political parties urged a "Yes" vote in the poll, but some Tutsi parties urged a "No" vote, stating that the new constitution doesn’t give Tutsis enough guarantees. Election day was peaceful and no major incidents were reported. Voter turnout was high and the final results showed overwhelming support for the new constitution.

Main Points of the Constitution

• The ethnic composition of the National Assembly is 60% Hutu and 40% Tutsi. Three additional seats are reserved for members of the Twa ethnic group, which makes up approximately one percent of the national population.
• In the upper house of parliament, the Senate, seats are evenly divided (50%-50%) between Hutus and Tutsis.
• Military posts are to be shared equally between the two groups.

The National Assembly is the name of either a legislature, or the lower house of a bicameral legislature in some countries. ... The Twa are a pygmy people, of short stature, who were the oldest recorded inhabitants of an area in central Africa that now comprises the nations of Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ...

Results

3 June/7 June 2005 Communal Elections

On 3 June 2005, voters went to the polls to choose 3,225 communal councilors (25 seats per Commune; A total of 129 Communes). The election was largely peaceful in most parts of the country, however, violence and intimidation in some communes of Bujumbura Rural and Bubanza provinces led to a re-poll held on 7 June. Observers considered the communal elections generally free and fair, despite some minor irregularities. [1]

The elections were won by the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), who captured 55% (1,781) of the seats.

Results

4 July 2005 National Assembly Elections

National Assembly elections were held on 4 July 2005. Approximately 30 political parties and independents competed for 100 seats. Voting was largely peaceful throughout the country during election day. Observers deemed the polls generally free, fair, and transparent. [2] Major political parties accepted the results as legitimate. The National Assembly is the lower chamber of Parliament in Burundi. ...

In order to ensure the 60%-40% ethnic split and 30% quota for women, a further 18 members, including the three Twa representatives foreseen by the Electoral Code, were co-opted after the elections.

As in the communal elections held a month earlier, the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) won the most seats.

Results

The National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy (NCDD–FDD) was the most significant rebel group active in the Burundi Civil War and became a major political party in Burundi. ... The Front for the Democracy in Burundi (Front pour la Démocratie au Burundi, Frodebu) is a political party in Burundi. ... The Union for National Progress (Unité pour le Progrès national, UPRONA) is a nationalist political party in Burundi, receiving most of its support from members of the Tutsi ethnic group. ... The National Council for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD) (Conseil National Pour la Défense de la Démocratie) is a former ethnic Hutu rebel group that now functions as a political party in Burundi. ... The Movement for the Rehabilitation of Citizens-Rurenzangemero ((Mouvement pour la Réhabilitation du Citoyen-Rurenzangemero, MRC-Rurenzangemero) is a political party in Burundi. ... The Party for National Recovery (Parti pour le redressement national, PARENA) is a political party in Burundi. ...

29 July 2005 Senate Elections

Senate elections were held on 29 July 2005. Senators were chosen indirectly through electoral colleges of communal council members in each province. There are two senators (one Hutu and one Tutsi) from each of Burundi's seventeen provinces. Three Senators come from the Twa ethnic group. Women must occupy at least 30% of the seats in the Senate. Four former presidents - Jean-Baptiste Bagaza (PARENA), Pierre Buyoya (UPRONA), Sylvestre Ntibantunganya (FRODEBU), and Domitien Ndayizeye (FRODEBU) will also become Senators. The Senate is the upper chamber of Parliament in Burundi. ... Burundi is divided into 17 provinces: Bubanza Bujumbura Mairie Bujumbura Rural Bururi Cankuzo Cibitoke Gitega Karuzi Kayanza Kirundo Makamba Muramvya Muyinga Mwaro Ngozi Rutana Ruyigi Categories: Lists of subnational entities | Burundi ... Jean-Baptiste Bagaza (b. ... Pierre Buyoya Major Pierre Buyoya (b. ... Sylvestre Ntiybantunganya (born 19XX) was a Burundi political figure. ... Domitien Ndayizeye (b. ...

Results

19 August 2005 Presidential Election

Members of the National Assembly and Senate chose the new president of the republic, who will serve term of five years, on 19 August 2005. The sole candidate, Pierre Nkurunziza of the CNDD-FDD, was overwhelmingly endorsed as president by the parliament. Nkurunziza was sworn in on 26 August 2005. Pierre Nkurunziza is elected President of Burundi on August 19, 2005. ... August 26 is the 238th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (239th in leap years). ...

Results

23 September 2005 'Hills' Elections

According to the new constitution, each 'Hill', or district will be managed by a council made up of five members who are elected by direct vote for a term of five years. During these elections, the candidates presented themselves only as independents.

See also

• Elections in Burundi
• Politics of Burundi
• History of Burundi

Elections in Burundi gives information on election and election results in Burundi. ... In November 1995, the presidents of Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zaire announced a regional initiative for a negotiated peace in Burundi facilitated by former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere. ... Burundi is one of the few countries in Africa, along with its closely linked neighbour Rwanda, to be a direct territorial continuation of an ancient African state. ...

External links

• Angus Reid Consultants - Election Tracker
• Constitution of Burundi (In French)
• Burundi on the Eve of Elections - Wilson Center