Constitutional Court of Burundi

The Constitutional Court of Burundi (French: Cour constitutionnelle) is the supreme authority on Burundi's constitutional law. The Constitutional Court deals with the interpretation of the Constitution of 2005. Together with the Burundian Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court can form a High Court of Justice with special prerogatives such as trying an incumbent President.^[1]

In May 2015, the Constitutional Court was called to rule on the legality for a candidate to stand for a third term as President of Burundi. The case occurred against the background of the widespread popular unrest against the government of Pierre Nkurunziza who had held the position of President since 2005. The court ruled that the Constitution of 2005 did not prohibit a third term, ruling that the first mandate should not count as the President was chosen by parliament.^[2] The judgment was deeply controversial and was accused of pro-government bias. The court's Vice-President, Sylvere Nimpagaritse, fled into exile before the judgment, claiming that the government had applied pressure to the judges to decide in favour of three-term presidencies.^[3]

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