Over 200 CNL members arrested after 11 days of electoral campaign

Térence Manirambona, Spokesperson for CNL party says their members have been harassed since the beginning of the electoral campaign on April 27. “ One party member was killed in Kanyinya locality in Kirundo province while two others were abducted in Cankuzo province and Mwaro province respectively,” says Manirambona.

Térence Manirambona: “We are committed to continuing the electoral campaign at any cost”

He also says dozens of CNL party members were injured during the confrontation between CNDD-FDD and CNL members. Manirambona also says candidates for the different upcoming elections are also targeted. He says Katy Kezimana and Séverin Nitunga, both candidates for the upcoming legislative elections in Bujumbura and Ruyigi provinces respectively have been arrested and detained in prisons. “They are added to more than 200 CNL party members arrested and detained after 11 days of the electoral campaign in different localities,” says Manirambona.

He also accuses the Ministry of Public Security and of Home Affairs of being partial. “We are accused of committing violence while we are harassed and attacked by other members of political parties,” he says. Térence Manirambona calls on the administrative and police officials to be partial by equally treating members of political parties.

CNL Spokesperson also exhorts the government to release all CNL party members. “The government should respect the agreement signed in Kayanza province in 2018 to end the intention trial”, he says adding that CNL party is committed to continuing the electoral campaign at any cost until the last day on May 17. “The electoral commission must ensure that the electoral code is respected and implemented by all political parties in the electoral campaign”, he concludes.