Burundi : “The legislative elections of shame,” according to Aimé Magera, opposition leader in exile

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, June 12, 2025 – Burundian opposition leader in exile and international representative of the CNL party, Aimé Magera, gave an exclusive response to SOS Médias Burundi following the announcement of the results of the June 5 legislative elections. He describes them as “the legislative elections of shame,” denounces a fraudulent electoral process, and calls for a political overhaul around Agathon Rwasa.

Aimé Magera categorically rejects the election results, which saw the CNDD-FDD win all the seats in the National Assembly. According to him, this outcome was predictable and once again illustrates the “unabashed authoritarianism” of the current government.

“The CNDD-FDD is a politico-military movement whose leaders have never abandoned the reflexes of the underground. For twenty years, this power has maintained itself through fear, intimidation, and repression,” he asserts.

He deplores the fact that some Burundians long ignored these practices, believing they only targeted former National Liberation Forces (FNL) activists. “Yet we warned certain political partners who chose to support this electoral charade. They preferred to turn a blind eye,” he adds.

Aimé Magera praises the political maturity of the voters, noting that many localities observed a massive boycott.

“People refused to endorse a facade of democracy. They heard our call and preferred to stay home or go about their business. This is a strong response.”

He accuses the Imbonerakure, members of the CNDD-FDD youth league, of filling the polling stations alone.

“They voted in place of others, stuffed the ballot boxes. And to avoid a new ‘Kazihise phenomenon,’ Ntahorwamiye took nearly a week to produce the shameful figures,” he quipped.

This comment refers to Pierre Claver Kazihise, former president of the CENI, who published unvalidated results in 2020, which were then removed from the commission’s website, citing an error in the distribution of a document that was still in draft form.

The opposition leader concludes by calling for a national awakening:

“The only way out remains a rallying of the country’s vital forces around the statesman Agathon Rwasa, to demand a national conference to reshape Burundi’s future.”

It should be recalled that, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), the CNDD-FDD won 100% of the seats in the National Assembly.