While most of the world tries to slow the spread and limit the death toll of Covid-19, Burundi is expelling health experts.
This week, the government, which refuses to acknowledge the threat the virus presents, resorted to familiar tactics and declared the country representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and three of its experts persona non grata without giving any reason.
Although restrictions on movement to address the health crisis are warranted when necessary and proportionate, to have fair elections, Burundi should ensure they are open to independent monitoring and accountability for crimes and abuses.
Burundi's elections risk effectively taking place behind closed doors, which may be just what authorities want.
Since a political crisis broke out in Burundi in 2015, authorities have stopped at nothing to eliminate space for dissenting voices.
