The ACCORD Burundi Intervention conducted a capacity building training in election observation and mediation for COSOME (Coalition de la Société Civile pour le Monitoring des Elections), and ABR (Association Burundaise des Radiodiffuseurs) from 10 – 13 August 2009 in Bujumbura, Burundi. The training was observed by representatives from the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI, who managers the electoral process in Burundi) and the National Council for Communication (who supervisors media activities in Burundi).
The training was facilitated by Jerome Sachane, Deputy Director, ACCORD and Belinda Musanhu, Programme, Manager: Elections and Political Processes, from the Electoral Institute for Southern Africa (EISA), with support from Adelin Hatungimana, a Senior Programme Officer based at ACCORD’s Burundi Office. The training was officially opened by Marguerite Bukuru, Deputy President of the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI).
Jerome Sachane, Deputy Director, ACCORD (4th from right) with the delegates who attended the Election Observation and Mediation Training
The training was a follow up initiative to an election related conflict management training conducted for the same group in July 2009. Whereas the aim of the first training was to impart basic conflict management skills, with a special focus on the prevention and management of election related conflict, the aim of the follow-up training was to build on skills already given with a special focus on the areas of election observation and mediation. It is expected that these trainings will assist beneficiaries in playing a constructive role towards conflict free elections in Burundi in 2010.
For more information, please contact Mr. Adelin Hatungimana, Senior Programme Officer at the ACCORD Bujumbura office, on adelin@accord.org.za or Tel. +257 22 248 914.
