Burundi

The draft law, which has been presented to the cabinet for approval, also awards him a lifetime salary.

It also proposes that Mr Nkurunziza be elevated to the title of "supreme leader" when he steps down in May.

Burundi was plunged into a constitutional crisis in 2015 when he successfully ran for a third term.

The move sparked violent protests by opposition supporters which morphed into reprisal attacks.

Last year a UN commission accused the government of human rights abuses, including executions, arbitrary arrests, torture and sexual violence.

The investigators said in a report last month that thousands of people had been tortured, suffered sexual abuse or disappeared during political violence.

They also warned of the danger of genocide from the escalating violence.

The decision comes days after Burundi announced plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Presidential spokesman Willy Nyamitwe said Saturday that Col. Jean Bikomagu was shot in his car. 

Burundi has been rocked by violence since the April announcement that Nkurunziza would stand for another term. 

Nkurunziza won the elections following turmoil in which about 100 people died in months of street protests against the extension of the president's time in power.

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.

Results of the presidential election are expected Friday afternoon.

Nkurunziza is expected to win the vote because some opposition groups boycotted. Leading opposition figure Agathon Rwasa said his campaign was frustrated by government security agencies. Critics charge that Nkurunziza's effort to extend his time in power is unconstitutional.

The U.S. and British governments said the election lacks credibility as a result of government intimidation.

Electoral commission head Pierre-Claver Ndayicariye said Wednesday that between 72 percent and 80 percent of Burundi's 3.8 million voters cast their ballots.

Nkurunziza is expected to win after some opposition groups boycotted the poll. Main opposition figure Agathon Rwasa said his attempts to campaign had been frustrated by the government.

Turnout was low in the capital, Bujumbura, and one province but 16 other provinces had a good level of voters, said the head of Burundi's electoral commission Claver Ndayicariye. Results are expected in two days, he said.

With some of the opposition boycotting the election and others charging that they were not allowed to campaign, Nkurunziza, 51, is not facing a strong electoral challenge.

The gunshots and explosions kept away voters, though most polling stations opened at around 6 a.m. or 7 a.m., said Honore Niyomukiza, who is in charge of voting centers in Kamenge District.

With some of the opposition boycotting the election and others saying that they were not allowed to campaign, Nkurunziza, 51, is not facing a strong challenge in his bid for a third term.

Incumbent President Pierre Nkuruniziza's bid for a third term in office has caused unrest ahead of the election.

Local journalist Patrick Wasso said the gunfire and explosions late Monday came from the direction of the Nyakabiga neighborhood where weeks of protests were held after the April announcement that Nkurunziza will run for a third term in office.

It was not immediately clear if anyone had been injured.

A preliminary statement from the observers said the electoral process took place "in a tense political crisis" and "fundamental freedoms of participation, assembly, expression, opinion and information" suffered increasing restrictions during the campaign and as Monday's election approached.

The mission noted that the African Union and two regional organizations expressed similar concerns.

Burundi has been hit by violence since the April announcement that President Pierre Nkurunziza would run for a third term in presidential elections set for July 15.