The African Union has deployed military experts in Burundi as a precaution against a possible outbreak of civil war following the controversial presidential election held last week.

There are fears that the opposition could resort to armed rebellion after boycotting the polls.

There was heavy shelling and gunfire in the capital Bujumbura the election day, while fighting had broken out in Kayanza Province between Burundian government forces and unknown groups on July 10.

Peter Matuki, a member of the East African Community observer team told The EastAfrican from Bujumbura that the voter turnout was only 30 per cent, even though the government-friendly media was putting it at between 75 and 80 per cent. 

“We are concerned about what is likely to happen because the opposition will not recognise the elections. There is tension and insecurity as sporadic shooting is becoming the order of the day. There is a need for the EAC heads of state to call an urgent summit to save Burundi before things get out of hand,” said Mr Matuki, who suggested that a government of national unity would be best for the current situation.

He noted that by 4pm, all those who wanted to vote had voted, with low turnout being experienced in most provinces, especially Makamba and Bururi.

There was no other international observers apart from the EAC team, with the AU Commission chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, having withdrawn observers in June because conditions did not allow “free, fair, participatory, and credible elections.”

The EAC team’s preliminary report indicates that the environment was not conducive to free and fair elections because of the shelling and gun fights, low turnout and the boycott by the opposition. 

READ: EAC observer team says Burundi poll not free or fair

The credibility of the presidential election will be further dented by lack of participation of 150,000 Burundians who fled to neighbouring countries.

The elections leaves EAC partner states in a dilemma over whether to recognise the Burundi presidential election which President Pierre Nkurunziza won, having competed against himself.

The challenge will be to evaluate the presidential election based on the EAC Elections Charter that was ratified in December 2012, whose objective is promoting democracy and preventing violence arising from political contests.

The EAC observers on Friday declared that the polls were neither free nor fair after the electoral commission declared President Nkurunziza the winner.

Donald Deya, chief executive of the Pan African Lawyers Union expressed disappointment that the communicate from the EAC Special Summit on Burundi could not persuade President Nkurunziza to suspend the elections.