Burundi : opposition boycott and tensions surrounding the electoral process ahead of 2027

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, May 9, 2026 — In Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital and home to UN agencies and the central government, the electoral process leading up to the 2027 presidential election is unfolding amidst high political tensions, marked by a boycott by part of the opposition and early departures from a meeting of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).

Five opposition political parties boycotted a meeting organized by the CENI on Friday, May 8, 2026, dedicated to preparations for the presidential election scheduled for 2027.

The parties involved are the CNL, UPRONA, CODEBU, FRODEBU, and CDP.

In a joint statement, these political parties denounced the CENI’s refusal to acknowledge irregularities observed during the 2025 legislative, district, and local elections, which were won by the CNDD-FDD.

The signatory parties believe that no credible electoral process can begin without prior inclusive political dialogue. They called for the establishment of a framework for consultation to restore trust among political actors and guarantee “free, fair, and peaceful” elections.

They also accused the CENI of failing to respond to numerous complaints related to previous elections, arguing that this undermines the credibility of the current electoral process.

“The CENI’s current stance is likely to further compromise the credibility of the current and future electoral processes,” they stated.

Despite this boycott, the meeting was held with the participation of the CNDD-FDD and allied parties, as well as some civil society organizations close to the government.

Two political parties, however, left the room before the end of the discussions : the APDR and the RANAC.

According to sources close to the participants, the APDR and the RANAC left the meeting after denouncing what they considered an unbalanced process. They specifically criticized civil society organizations close to the government for interventions deemed biased, perceived as systematically defending the position of the CENI (Independent National Electoral Commission) and the ruling party while rejecting criticism from the opposition. The two parties also felt that their concerns about the credibility of the electoral process were not sufficiently addressed in the discussions.

The CENI confirmed that the presidential election will take place on May 3, 2027, with an electoral campaign scheduled for two weeks prior to the vote.

Politically, the Burundian government is currently composed entirely of members and supporters of the CNDD-FDD (National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy). The political opposition has been considerably weakened in recent years, marked in particular by the marginalization of major figures such as former rebel leader Agathon Rwasa and the weakening of the National Congress for Liberty (CNL).

The legislative, district, and local elections held in 2025 were won by the CNDD-FDD, consolidating its absolute institutional dominance. Parliament is now entirely controlled by the ruling party.

In this context, local and international actors believe that Burundi is heading towards a reconfiguration of the party-state type, with an increasingly restricted political space and a largely unbalanced electoral competition, on the eve of a new and crucial electoral cycle.