Catholic church drops backing for Burundi election

Burundis influential Catholic Church has withdrawn its support for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, which have been marred by civil strive over President Pierre Nkurunzizas decision to stand for a third term. A statement on Thursday from Burundis bishops criticised the manner in which the elections have been organised and the way they are evolving. The Church also asked priests who serve in electoral commissions across the country to step down. Leading opposition figure Agathon Rwasa told Al Jazeera the move further undermined the legitimacy of the coming vote. The withdrawal of the Catholic Church is more proof that there is no possibility of a democratic election within a week, Rwasa said. The announcement came a day after Burundis main opposition parties said it was now impossible to hold free and fair elections and that the result should not be recognised if they take place. Parliamentary elections are due to be held on June 5, with a presidential poll scheduled for June 26. In the statement, read out on Catholic radio by Bishop Gervais Bashimiyubusa, the Church said it cannot endorse an election riddled with shortcomings. Threat or intimidation It nevertheless said people should vote, but stressed that nobody should go to the polls by threat or intimidation, or because they have been bought in one way or another. In the eyes of God, that would be slavery to evil, Bashimiyubusa said. The crisis surrounds a bid by Nkurunziza to stand for a third consecutive term in office, with opposition and rights groups saying the move violates the constitution as well as the terms of a peace deal that ended a 13-year civil war in 2006. Street protests have taken place for the past month, leaving at least 30 dead after a violent crackdown by security forces. The crisis intensified earlier this month when a top general staged a failed coup attempt. The opposition parties said the crisis risked plunging the small, landlocked and impoverished country back into civil war. The Catholic Church has already spoken out against the president, asserting that it too has concluded his third-term bid goes against the peace deal.

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Catholic church drops backing for Burundi election