Cibitoke : the UPRONA denounces the exclusion of its members from polling stations and acts of intimidation

SOS Médias Burundi

Cibitoke, May 5, 2025 – As legislative and district elections approach, the UPRONA party is sounding the alarm in the province of Cibitoke, in northwest Burundi. Its provincial chairperson denounces the exclusion of its members from polling stations and acts of intimidation orchestrated, according to him, by youth members of the ruling party. He calls for a fair and transparent electoral process.

Just one month before the elections, tensions are rising in the province of Cibitoke. The chairperson of the UPRONA party in this province, Stany Iranyibutse, denounced on Sunday, May 4, the exclusion of its members from polling stations, which he describes as a flagrant violation of the electoral code.

Speaking at a political meeting in the Rugajo zone, Mugina district, Iranyibutse—also vice-chairperson of the new Bujumbura province within UPRONA—pointed to the failure to comply with Article 40 of the electoral code. According to him, no UPRONA member was included in the lists of people assigned to polling stations.

“This is blatant marginalization. We cannot claim to organize credible elections by excluding certain parties from the process,” he declared to visibly worried activists.

The UPRONA provincial leader also accused youth affiliated with the ruling CNDD-FDD party of intimidating his activists and preventing them from freely carrying out their activities on the ground.

“Our members are subjected to constant threats and pressure. This climate is incompatible with a democratic process,” he added.

Faced with this situation, Iranyibutse called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to fully play its role and ensure a fair and transparent organization of the elections. “We urge the CENI to act impartially. Each party deserves to reap the votes it actually receives at the polls,” he insisted.

Despite the difficulties, the UPRONA activists present at the meeting displayed their determination. “We remain mobilized. On election day, we will show our weight,” they declared.

In the small East African nation, allegations of abuse are increasing as the election approaches. Several opposition parties report a widespread climate of intimidation, arbitrary arrests of their activists, restrictions on movement, and the abusive use of security forces to prevent political meetings from taking place. These worrying signs raise fears of a shrinking democratic space in a country where the transparency of the electoral process is already regularly called into question.

As the electoral calendar becomes clearer, these tensions point to a potentially turbulent campaign in this province bordering the DRC. Observers are already calling for calming measures to ensure a peaceful election.

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Representatives of the UPRONA party at a meeting in Mugina district (SOS Médias Burundi)