Burundi: One party state polls (1966-1993)
Updated August 2010
Michel Micombero (1966-1976)
On 28 November 1966 Prime Minister, Captain Michel Micombero, deposed King Ntare V, who fled into exile, and proclaimed himself the President of a Burundian republic (Mthembu-Salter 2008, 152; Bayefsky.com 1992. For background information see Fall of the Monarchy (1962 - 1966)). He consolidated what was effectively a military dictatorship by imposing himself as leader of the ruling Unite pour le Progrès National (UPRONA, Union for National Progress) and then, by purging the military and UPRONA of Hutus, Micombero was able to transform them into Tsutsi dominated organs of control over Burundi (Mthembu-Salter 2008 152, 153, Kimber 1996). The domination of UPRONA created a defacto one party state, which was made de jure with the adoption of a new constitution in 1974, but all executive and legislative power was exercise by presidential decree and no elections were conducted (Bayefsky.com 1992. For more on this period see First Republic (1966 - 1976)). Brutal suppression was accompanied by disastrous economic policies that led to divisions among the ruling Tsutsi elite so that conflicting regional factions emerged undermining Micombero's authority and power and eventually to a military coup in November 1976 that brought Jean-Baptiste Bagaza to power (Bentley & Southall 2005, 43; Mthembu-Salter 2008, 152).
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza (1976-1987)
The new president Jean-Baptiste Bagaza promised to end the military rule and to create a democracy sensitive to social justice (Bentley & Southall 2005, 43; Mthembu-Salter 2008, 152). Bagaza returned Burundi to civilian rule in 1977, Hutus were incorporated into government, an anti-corruption drive was launched and new Constitution was endorsed by a referendum with 99.3% of the vote in November 1981, but Burundi remained a one-party state under UPRONA (Kimber 1996; Bentley & Southall 2005, 43; Bayefsky.com 1992; Mthembu-Salter 2008, 153; Nunley 2006). One party National Assembly elections were held in October 1982 and Bagaza was elected President in 1984 with 99.6% of the vote in a one-man race (Bayefsky.com 1992; Bentley & Southall 2005, 44; Nunley 2006. For more information on this period see Second Republic (1976 - 1987)).
Polls 1976-1987
| Date | Poll | Number | Percentage | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered | Ballots | Valid | Invalid | Turnout | Invalid | ||
| 18/09/1981 | Referendum | 1 702 623 | 1 604 722 | 1 593 783 | 10 939 | 94.25 | 0.68 |
| 22/10/1982 | National Assembly | 1 578 947 | ±1 500 000 | no data | no data | ±95 | no data |
| 31/08/1984 | Presidential | 1 788 493 | 1 758 801 | no data | no data | 98.34 | no data |
Table sources
Nunley 2006; Basedau 1999, 158, 159.
The economy continued to deteriorate but the adoption of a structural adjustment programme in 1986 affected the privileged economic life of the ruling elite and Bagaza was deposed in September 1987 in a military coup led by Major Pierre Buyoya (Kimber 1996; Oketch & Polzer 2002, 98).
Pierre Buyoya (1987-1983)
As president Buyoya moved slowly and cautiously in reforming political life, for he had to contend with Hutu uprisings, Tutsi retaliatory massacres of Hutus and coup attempts, but eventually Charter of National Unity adopted in February 1991 by 89.8% of the vote, followed by a new Constitution, which was endorsed in a national referendum in March 1992 (see 1992 Constitutional referendum for details).
Charter of National Unity referendum
| Date | Poll | Number | Percentage | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered | Ballots | Valid | Invalid | Turnout | Invalid | ||
| 09/02/1991 | Referendum | 2 186 591 | 2 103 938 | 2 090 775 | 13 143 | 96.22 | 0.62 |
Table sources
Basedau 1999, 158, 160.
The referendum was followed by presidential elections on 1 June 1993 (see 1993 Presidential results) and National Assembly elections on 29 June (see 1993 National Assembly results). The transition to democracy was wracked by conflict and increasing socio-economic misery; the military exercised increasing power, culminating in a coup on 25 July 1996 that returned Buyoya to power (see Third Republic (1987 - 1996) and Fourth Republic (1996 - 2001) for details).
References
BAYEFSKY.COM 1992 "Core reports: Burundi", [www] http://www.bayefsky.com/core/hri_core_1_add_16_1992.php [opens new window] (accessed 10 Mar 2010).
BENTLEY, K & SOUTHALL, R 2005 An African peace process: Mandela, South Africa-Burundi, Cape Town, HSRC Press.
BASEDAU, M 1999 IN Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (eds) Elections in Africa: A Data Handbook, Oxford Publishers.
KIMBER, C 1996 "Coming to terms with barbarism in Rwanda and Burundi" IN International Socialism 73, December, [www] http://pubs.socialistreviewindex.org.uk/isj73/kimber.htm [opens new window] (accessed 10 Mar 2010)
MTHEMBU-SALTER, G 2008 "Burundi: Recent History" IN Frame, I (ed) Africa South of the Sahara 2008, London and New York, Routledge.
NUNLEY, AC 2006 "Elections in Burundi" IN African Elections Database, [www] http://africanelections.tripod.com/bi.html [opens new window] (accessed 24 May 2010).