In Buhumuza, ballot boxes are under high tension

SOS Médias Burundi

Cankuzo, June 3, 2025 – As the electoral campaign draws to a close in preparation for the June 5 elections, several opposition parties are denouncing a climate of fear and violence in the future Buhumuza province (eastern Burundi), particularly in Ruyigi province. The Union for National Progress (UPRONA), the National Rally for Change (RANAC), and the National Congress for Freedom (CNL) are sounding the alarm.

In the villages of Buhumuza, the atmosphere is far from festive. From May 24 to 31, these three political parties competing in the local elections claim to have been victims of systematic intimidation. They denounce verbal threats, physical attacks, and obstructions to their activities.

“Some of our activists were violently attacked while they were on their way to our rallies. Others received clear threats asking them not to appear with us,” declared Serge Njebarikanuye, UPRONA provincial secretary in Buhumuza, during a rally in Butaganzwa.

He points to the Muriza zone, where several members of his party were reportedly prevented from accessing campaign sites on several occasions, allegedly on the orders of Ferdinand Bandiyiminsi, the provincial leader of the Imbonerakure—members of the youth league of the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party, considered a militia by the UN—a native of the area.

A CNL representative, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated :

“What we are experiencing here has nothing to do with a free campaign. The message is clear : if you are not with the CNDD-FDD (National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy), you must keep quiet or disappear.”

According to him, the districts of Muyinga, Gasorwe, Butihinda, and Giteranyi (current Muyinga province), as well as Nyabitsinda (Ruyigi province), are particularly affected. He mentions a violent clash on May 30 in Nyabitsinda between CNDD-FDD and CNL activists, allegedly provoked by the zone chief and the local Imbonerakure leader. The incident reportedly left several people injured and damaged a CNL car.

RANAC, for its part, denounces constant insults and humiliations since the beginning of the campaign in the provinces of Ruyigi and Cankuzo.

“We felt like we were being watched everywhere. “Several of our meetings were disrupted without any intervention from the police,” laments a party official.

It should be noted that, according to our information, the Nyabitsinda zone chief and the local Imbonerakure leader were arrested and placed in pretrial detention at the Ruyigi police station, awaiting sanctions.

For the opposition parties, these actions are aimed at locking down the election in favor of the CNDD-FDD, historically dominant in this region bordering Tanzania. They describe it as an “electoral sham,” a “theater of violence under the guise of democracy.”

The June 5 elections will focus on the establishment of district and legislative structures, but for many, they already constitute a crucial barometer ahead of the upcoming national elections. The opposition sees these grassroots councils as a strategic lever to ultimately influence political decision-making.