Burundi can redeem Africa’s taintage image by rescheduling the June elections

As Burundi goes to the polls in June amid violent protests and political instability following the recent attempted coup, several electoral reforms and institutional improvements need to be put in place to avoid being in the league of numerous contentious and flawed elections in the African continent.

The just concluded Ethiopian elections explicitly demonstrated how much Africa still needs to do to have a credible electoral system. The disproportionate playing field accorded to the opposition meant the government in power had the upper hand in the elections.  And yes, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn won with a resounding victory albeit through deceit – that wasn’t a surprise.