The head of Burundi's elections body has appealed for calm following Wednesday's general election which sought to select a replacement for outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza.

The East African country's more than five million voters had seven candidates to choose from, including the ruling party candidate Evariste Ndayishimiye and the main opposition competitor Agathon Rwasa.

Pierre-Claver Kazihise, the chairman of Burundi's National Independent Electoral Commission, urged those "getting impatient" to be calm, saying the process of counting all the votes would take several days, and results would be announced on Monday or Tuesday.

The results from more than 3,800 polling stations across Burundi are expected to be collated in the capital Bujumbura, before a winner is declared.

"This will take time," said Claver Kazihise, adding they would announce the results of the presidential, parliamentary and local elections at the same time.

This is the first time in 15 years that Burundians have headed to an election without Nkurunziza's name being on the ballot.

The 55-year-old has served three terms, the third of which sparked lengthy unrest in the country.

The Burundi elections were held as the world battles a COVID-19 pandemic that has infected more than five million people worldwide with a death toll exceeding 329,000, according to the U.S. based Johns Hopkins University.

Burundi’s government however did not impose any movement restrictions in the country, having reported 42 infections and one death.

Source(s): Al Jazeera