They were also only the second multiparty national elections in the country's history, and the first since 1961.
They would be the first free multiparty elections since 1946.
The first multiparty presidential election took place on 3 July 1994.
The changes include multiparty elections on March 31 and opening up the economy.
The new President has promised multiparty elections in two years.
The first multiparty presidential elections were held in January 1992.
But they say long-term change through multiparty elections remains possible.
And so, hopes for a true multiparty election in two years are dying.
"The concern is that one multiparty election does not a democracy make," he said.
It has held three multiparty elections since independence in 1980.