Burundi: Referendum, 17 May 2018

At stake in this Referendum:

• Voters were asked to approve a new constitution that will replace the transitional charter governing the country.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA
• Head of Government: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA
• Assembly: Burundi has a bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consisting of the Senate with 54 seats and the National Assembly (Assemblee National) with 100 seats.

Electoral Requirements:

• The referendum requires a simple majority to pass.

About the Referendum:

• The referendum contains several provisions. Presidential term limits of two five-year terms would be abolished and replaced with seven-year terms, allowing current President Pierre NKURUNZIZA to serve two seven-year terms on top of the two five-year terms he already has (he is currently in the third). The office of one of two vice presidents would be abolished, and the Senate would have the power to change the ethnic quotas for government positions. Laws would require only a majority in the Assembly to pass, instead of the current 60%. 

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 11,099,298 (2016)
• Registered Voters: 4,768,154 (2018)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 5,574,886 (2016)

·         Is Burundi a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Burundi ratified CEDAW: Yes (8 January 1992)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 36 (following 2005 parliamentary elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 184 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Burundi a signatory to CRPD: Yes (26 April 2007)

·         Has Burundi ratified CRPD: Yes (22 May 2014)

·         Population with a disability: 1,190,131 (est.)