Burundi: President Pierre Nkurunziza wins 3rd term in office amid unrest over his candidacy

A powerpoint presentation shows the preliminary results of Burundi's Presidential elections as they are being presented by the National Electoral committee in Bujumbura, Burundi, Friday July 24, 2015. Burundi’s electoral chief says President Pierre Nkurunziza has won a third term in office, amid unrest over whether his third term is constitutional. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) (The Associated Press)

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A guest photographs a powerpoint presentation showing the preliminary results of Burundi's Presidential elections as they are being presented by the National Electoral committee in Bujumbura, Burundi, Friday July 24, 2015. Burundi’s electoral chief says President Pierre Nkurunziza has won a third term in office, amid unrest over whether his third term is constitutional. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) (The Associated Press)

Photographers take pictures of a powerpoint presentation showing the preliminary results of Burundi's Presidential elections as they are being presented by the National Electoral committee in Bujumbura, Burundi, Friday July 24, 2015. Pierre Nkurunziza wins a third term with 69.41 percent of the votes. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) (The Associated Press)

BUJUMBURA, Burundi – Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza has won a third term in office, an electoral official announced Friday, amid unrest over whether his third term is constitutional.

Nkurunziza won 69 percent of the vote while his closest rival, Agathon Rwasa, got 19 percent, said electoral chief Pierre-Claver Ndayicariye.

Nkurunziza, 51, was expected to win because he did not face a strong challenge in Tuesday's polls after some opposition groups boycotted the election. Rwasa, the leading opposition candidate, said his campaign had been hindered by officials.

The United States and Britain have condemned the elections as not being credible because of violence, intimidation of opposition groups, the government shutting down independent media and questions over the constitutionality of Nkurunziza's bid for a third term.