Village elections : the shadow of the ruling party hangs over Buhumuza

SOS Médias Burundi

Buhumuza, August 24, 2025 – As village elections take place on Monday, August 25, the province of Buhumuza, in eastern Burundi, is shaken by a series of controversial practices that cast a shadow over the transparency of the vote. Testimonies gathered on the ground report partisan interference, glaring disparities in the campaign, and electoral corruption.

Burundian law prohibits political parties from intervening in these elections, as candidates are expected to run as individuals. However, in Buhumuza, many residents report observing the active involvement of members of the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party.

Discreet outreach campaigns, often conducted house-to-house or in the grassroots cells (inama nshingiro) of the ruling party, reportedly aim to encourage voters to support candidates perceived as loyal to the CNDD-FDD, thereby marginalizing independent voices.

Unfair campaign conditions

Another worrying fact : the campaign conditions appear far from fair. The Independent District Electoral Commissions (CECI) had, however, established rules limiting propaganda to simple posters and the presentation of projects.

However, some candidates close to the ruling party have enjoyed real privileges : motorcades, loudspeakers, cultural events, and festive gatherings in urban centers. Independent candidates, for their part, claim to have been prevented from organizing such events and, in some cases, threatened by local authorities when they attempted to mobilize their voters.

Money and gifts as arguments

Electoral corruption is another cause for concern. In several districts in the province, distributions of cash, food, or various gifts have been observed. These practices are intended to attract voters, particularly in rural areas where the population remains very vulnerable.

“This is no longer an election based on ideas, but on money,” confided a Muyinga resident.
According to numerous reports, it is mainly candidates with substantial financial resources, sometimes accused of dubious practices, who resort to this practice. More modest candidates, despite credible projects, struggle to compete.