Bururi : a Pentecostal ordination amidst fervor, tensions, and political issues

SOS Médias Burundi

Bururi, September 15, 2025 – The ordination of Pastor Eliachim Nirikana as head of the Kiremba Sud Pentecostal Mission, in the Bururi district of Burunga province, was both a celebration of faith and a moment of visible divisions within the Pentecostal community. The ceremony, which also formalized the appointment of Pastor Chadrac Ndayishimiye as Second Pastor, took place on Sunday, September 14, amid popular fervor, but also in a climate of religious and political tensions.

This milestone marks a highly symbolic succession. Pastor Nirikana takes over from the highly respected Pastor Élie Ndikunkiko, who passed away on May 7, 2024, at the age of 84. A charismatic and unifying figure, he led the Kiremba Sud mission for several decades, leaving behind the image of a man of faith deeply committed to Church unity and social peace. His death ushered in a period of fragility for the mission, a fragility that is resurfacing today in the disputes surrounding his succession.

A contested event

Prior to the ceremony, approximately ten Pentecostal churches petitioned the Minister of the Interior, Community Development, and Public Security to prevent the ordination. They accused the Kiremba Sud mission of violating the texts of the Community of Pentecostal Churches of Burundi (CEPBU).

Despite this opposition, the mission went ahead with the ceremony. The pastor presiding over the event declared to the congregation : “It’s no secret. The demons did everything to prevent this ceremony from taking place.” This illustrated the climate of resistance and defiance in which the ordination was organized.

Religious, ethnic, and political issues

Behind the apparent conflict lie deeper issues. According to several local sources, the controversy is fueled by :

1. The politicization of churches, with suspicions of interference by the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party, in religious appointments;
2. Control of resources and ethnic balances within the CEPBU;
3. The desire of certain missions, such as Kiremba Sud, to maintain their independent operations.

The appointment of a pastor from the Tutsi community, a rare occurrence within the CEPBU, also contributed to heightened internal tensions.

Support at the highest level

Despite the controversy, the Kiremba Sud mission received significant political support. The President of the Republic, Évariste Ndayishimiye, dispatched his spokesperson and Secretary General of the State, Jérôme Niyonzima, to deliver an official message of congratulations to the new pastors. This gesture was seen as formal recognition and a strengthening of their legitimacy.

An ecumenical ceremony and a spiritual heritage

The event brought together representatives of other faiths, notably Catholic and Anglican, as well as delegations from four Pentecostal churches who came to support the Kiremba Sud mission. This ecumenical presence served as a reminder that, despite divisions, a message of unity and peace remains possible.

Beyond the tensions, the ordination ceremony was an opportunity to pay tribute to the legacy of Pastor Élie Ndikunkiko, whose memory still looms large in the community. For many faithful, he remains a figure of stability and wisdom whose succession, now disputed, illustrates the new challenges facing a Church seeking balance between faith, independence, and political pressure.