2025 Elections: Opposition in Cibitoke denounces its exclusion from the electoral process

A few months before the 2025 elections, opposition parties in Cibitoke province are denouncing irregularities in the electoral process. They point to the manipulation of electoral lists and the exclusion of their candidates. The local authorities downplays the allegations referring the complainants to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Opposition parties in Cibitoke province (northwestern Burundi) are denouncing irregularities in the electoral process. They accuse the Independent Provincial Electoral Commission of manipulating the electoral register and preventing their candidates from running.

Faced with these accusations, the governor of the province is referring the protesters to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), believing that it is up to the latter to examine their grievances.

Accusations of electoral fraud

The leaders of UPRONA and FRODEBU, two opposition parties, claim to have identified several anomalies in the displayed electoral lists.

“We have noted the presence of foreigners whose identity we do not know as well as children under 18. How did they obtain national identity cards? This is clear electoral fraud”, denounces a local FRODEBU official.

For its part, UPRONA accuses the electoral agents of the ruling party of fraudulent maneuvers.

“Even the agents responsible for posting the lists are members of the CNDD-FDD. How do you expect them to take our complaints into account? They are carrying out the directives of their hierarchy to ensure the victory of the CNDD-FDD at all costs”, complains an official of the Independence Party.

The electoral commission rejects the accusations

An electoral agent contacted by SOS Médias Burundi refutes these allegations.

“We work on the basis of the lists from the electoral registration. The agents who carried out this work were supervised by the local administrative authorities. There is therefore no irregularity,” he assures.

He also denies the presence of foreigners and minors on the electoral lists.

Appeal to the CENI

Asked about the issue, the governor of Cibitoke invites the protesters to refer the matter to the Independent National Electoral Commission if they feel that their demands have not been taken into account at the local level I.

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Census agents hang voter lists on a wall in a center in Cibitoke province, February 2025 (SOS Médias Burundi)