Cankuzo-Ruyigi: access to public services conditioned by the payment of forced contributions of the CNDD-FDD

The forced contributions that were decided by the presidential party in order to finance its electoral campaign for the 2025 legislative elections, have not spared the provinces of Cankuzo and Ruyigi further east of Burundi. Access to markets and public taps in particular, is conditioned by the payment of these contributions. Residents denounce “a de facto single-party system” imposed on them by CNDD-FDD which behaves like “a party-State”.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

For example, on Tuesday, August 27, no one (traders and buyers) could access the Kabuyenge market without presenting a receipt justifying the payment of these contributions deemed “forced” by the residents, including those who campaign for the former Hutu rebellion. The market in question is located near the border with Tanzania. It is located in the commune of Gisuru in the province of Ruyigi. In the region, several residents were prevented from drawing water from public taps and forced to return home to find money to pay to the administrators and Imbonerakure (members of the CNDD-FDD youth league), in charge of collecting these contributions.

Also in Ruyigi in the commune of Bweru, each citizen willingly or by force had to pay an amount varying between 1000 and 2000 Burundian francs to finance the CNDD-FDD campaign for the next year’s legislative elections.

“Each department head gave a sum of 10 thousand francs. Anyone who has not paid the required amounts remains marginalized and stigmatized. They are threatened,” say residents.

“We must monitor these individuals closely. They are “Ibipinga” or opponents”, Imbonerakure continue to threaten those who are recalcitrant to the forced contributions of the CNDD-FDD, according to witnesses and victims of the practice in Bweru.

Last week, the Rusengo market located in the commune of Ruyigi (same province), was also visited by the Imbonerakure.

“The Imbonerakure demanded that all the owners of stalls give contributions according to the size of the business. Everyone had to pay with a receipt. To see them, they look like hunters looking for game”, indicate residents who were at the Rusengo market.

In the neighboring province of Cankuzo, SOS Médias Burundi spoke with residents of the provincial capital. They claim that each household was forced to give an amount between 5 thousand and 10 thousand Burundian francs.

“Civil servants were forced to pay the equivalent of their entire monthly salary,” complain heads of households.

People who spoke to SOS Médias Burundi in the capital of Cankuzo talk about contributions that “suffocate” an “already miserable” population.

“We are disappointed and tired of the de facto single-party system imposed on us by the CNDD-FDD, which behaves like a party-state,” complain residents of Cankuzo.

Officially, these contributions are voluntary. They were to be collected between August 18 and 29, according to a circular from the secretary general of the CNDD-FDD, Révérien Ndikuriyo, seen by SOS Médias Burundi.

But in the different provinces of Burundi, the collection continues, often accompanied by abuse against all those who are reluctant to contribute.

The FRODEBU party recently asked its activists to “resist these contributions.” In a press release dated August 28, its vice-president Phénias Niyigaba denounced “contributions that violate Burundian laws and the rights of Burundian citizens”, calling on the ministries in charge of justice and internal affairs to “act”.

“Maintaining neglect and injustice in a country can produce the irreparable”.