Burundi : hate speech and intimidation in Kayanza from the campaign launch

SOS Médias Burundi

Kayanza, May 11, 2025 – Barely underway, the electoral campaign is taking a worrying turn in certain localities. In Kabarore, in the Kayanza province of northern Burundi, a ruling party official sowed fear by posing with a toy rifle and threatening opposition supporters. This contrasts sharply with the Head of State’s calls for calm.

Less than 48 hours after the official launch of the electoral campaign in Burundi, acts of intimidation have been reported in several districts. In Kabarore, in Buyumpu village, the atmosphere suddenly became tense during community work on Friday.

Gaspard Nsabiyaremye, a member of the district council and a senior official within the Provincial Directorate of Education (DPE), arrived wearing a CNDD-FDD uniform, brandishing a toy rifle resembling a Kalashnikov. The scene caused panic among residents.

But concern grew with the official’s remarks. Speaking to the crowd, he warned : “Whoever votes for the CNL party will know where to go…” – a message perceived as a thinly veiled threat.

He then asserted that this campaign must surpass those of 2015 and 2020, when the CNL had gained ground in the village.

A speech that contrasted with the Head of State’s call for calm.

The same day, in Gitega—the political capital—during the official campaign launch, President Évariste Ndayishimiye called on political parties to exercise restraint and maintain a spirit of peaceful competition.

“Elections must not be a battlefield.” “They must strengthen democracy and not sow terror,” he insisted before a crowd of activists and observers.

The Head of State warned against provocations and violence, reiterating that Burundi wants to break with past practices. He called on security forces to remain neutral and protect all citizens regardless of political affiliation.

Fear of an escalation in Kayanza

In Kabarore, the president’s remarks seem far removed. Gaspard Nsabiyaremye’s remarks revived painful memories of past electoral violence.

“We are afraid of bloodshed, because the CNL activists are so determined,” confided a teacher at the local secondary school. Some residents are already talking about taking refuge elsewhere in the event of an escalation.

Calls for justice and accusations of bias

Several citizens are calling for the arrest of Nsabiyaremye, whom they accuse of sowing fear. “This kind of talk takes us backward. We want free, peaceful elections,” they insist.

The CNL’s outrage is palpable. “It’s always the same scenario : local CNDD-FDD officials feel above the law. They threaten our members while the administration looks the other way,” denounces a party representative in Kabarore district. He calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to ensure a level playing field for all candidates.

While the campaign is only just beginning, these incidents cast a shadow over the credibility of the electoral process. The authorities are called upon to act quickly to prevent any deviation and enforce the commitments made at the highest levels of government.

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CNDD-FDD activists march through the Ingoma stadium in Gitega during the official launch of the electoral campaign for legislative and district elections in June 2025.