On 28 June, Burundians will go to the polls and vote in a presidential election far different from what was expected just over a month ago. They will be given the option of voting either for or against a single candidate, the current president, Mr. Pierre Nkurunziza.

The flurry of events leading to this current state of affairs has left many in the international community fearing the outbreak of widespread violence around the elections.While the European Union, international and national observers, as well as the media accepted that the elections held on 24 May met international standards, opposition parties immediately voiced their disapproval of the National Independent Electoral Commission’s (CENI) handling of the elections, alleging cases of fraud and other irregularities.Thirteen opposition parties have called for the sacking of the CENI and others have called for boycotting the upcoming presidential elections.With no formal opposition, the incumbent Mr. Pierre Nkurunziza stands as the only presidential candidate.

The Great Lakes Region and the international community will follow these presidential elections very closely.Already, violence has erupted in some parts of the country; violence which some fear may threaten the electoral process.As a nation, Burundi stands at an interesting crossroads in its attempts at consolidating democracy. Should an internationally recognized electoral process continue despite allegations of electoral fraud?

Should the elections continue with only one candidate?Will electors tune out the political outcries and queue up for the elections?Will a fractured opposition rally, form a true coalition that coalesces into a bona fide opposition to the ruling CNDD-FDD?And perhaps more importantly, given Burundi’s recent history, will the nation fall once more into widespread violence and conflict?

It is imperative that this presidential election be held in peace, and that opposition parties return to participate in the upcoming legislative elections on 23 July. With elections scheduled to be held in Rwanda in the coming months, and given the recent violence in Kenya, the Great Lakes Region can ill-afford another conflict.