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Burundi’s main opposition leader Agathon Rwasa was on Thursday elected as deputy head of the national parliament, despite having condemned recent elections and supported months of civil unrest. Rwasa, who has denounced the third consecutive term win by President Pierre Nkurunziza, had said earlier this week that he intended to “play the game” in order to try and help find a solution to the country’s political crisis – but has already been branded a “traitor” by other opposition figures.

In a parliament session on Thursday, Rwasa was elected as the national assembly’s first deputy president, winning 108 votes out of 112 thanks to support from Nkurunziza’s ruling CNDD-FDD party.