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1993 Burundian presidential election

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Presidential elections were held in Burundi on 1 June 1993 following the approval of a new constitution in a referendum the previous year. They were the first multi-party elections for the presidency, the only previous elections in 1984 having been held at a time when the country was a one-party state. This election was a watershed for Burundi, representing the end of a military backed Tutsi state, and the birth of democracy.

Three candidates entered the contest, with Melchior Ndadaye of the Front for Democracy in Burundi defeating incumbent President Pierre Buyoya with 66% of the vote. Voter turnout was 97.3%.[1]

Candidates

Results

Candidate Party Votes %
Melchior Ndadaye Front for Democracy in Burundi 1,483,904 65.68
Pierre Buyoya Union for National Progress 742,360 32.86
Pierre-Claver Sendegeya People's Reconciliation Party 33,072 1.46
Invalid/blank votes 32,410
Total 2,291,746 100
Registered votes/turnout 2,355,126 97.3
Source: EISA

Aftermath

Melchior Ndadaye's election victory put FRODEBU in prime position for a comfortable win in legislative elections held on 29 June 1993.

Ndadaye was sworn in as the first Hutu president of Burundi on 10 July 1993. His rule would be short, however, as he was assassinated on 21 October 1993 during a military coup by elements of the predominantly Tutsi army. Thereafter, the country plunged into a full-scale civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

References