In going ahead with the poll, Burundi joined a handful of countries that have managed to conduct general elections during the current coronavirus pandemic.

Yet the events that preceded the presidential, legislative and local elections on Wednesday showed that little had changed in Burundi’s political culture.

After financing the polls from her own resources, Bujumbura made it difficult for independent observers to monitor the conduct of the elections.

While lower than the toll from previous polls, the election process is yet to be concluded, until results are announced and new officeholders sworn in.

Widespread violence, including a grenade attack during the month-long campaigns, attest to the long road Burundi has to traverse before it can conduct elections whose outcome is seen as fair by all parties involved.