AU will not act as observer in Burundi’s elections

The African Union announced it would not act as an observer in Monday’s parliamentary polls in Burundi, saying the conditions were not right for “credible elections” after weeks of violent protests and international calls for the vote to be delayed.

“Noting that the necessary conditions are not met for the organisation of free, fair, transparent and credible elections… the AU Commission will not observe the local and parliamentary elections scheduled to take place this Monday,” AU commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said in a statement on Sunday.