Distribution of electoral cards : residents in difficulty in the northwest, an extension of the deadline requested

SOS Médias Burundi

Cibitoke, May 14, 2025 – At the end of the distribution of electoral cards, citizens of the provinces of Cibitoke, Bubanza, and Bujumbura, in northwest Burundi, denounce dysfunctions in the process. Endless queues, administrative errors, missing documents : Faced with these obstacles, calls for an extension of the deadline are multiplying.

For several days, residents of several districts in these provinces have been experiencing difficulties in obtaining their voter cards. In Rugombo, Mugina, Bukinanyana, as well as in certain areas of Bubanza and Bujumbura, many voters, even though they were duly registered, report not having been able to obtain their documents, despite several attempts.

“I came on Monday, then again on Wednesday. Each time, I’m told my card isn’t there or that my information is incorrect,” complained a mother I met in Rugombo.
A teacher in Mugina also denounced unexplained delays : “It would be unfair if registered citizens couldn’t vote because of administrative delays or a tight deadline.”

According to information gathered by SOS Médias Burundi, several factors are at play : errors in the voter lists, cards not delivered to the correct centers, or even a lack of communication about collection locations and dates. Some voters say they have received no official information.

Faced with this situation, calls for an extension of the deadline are growing. Local officials, speaking anonymously, are calling for an additional week to guarantee everyone access to the essential document for voting.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) has not yet commented on the matter. However, according to our sources, an internal assessment of the situation is underway.

At a time when the electoral climate remains tense, ensuring equitable access to voter registration cards appears to be a crucial issue of transparency and credibility for Burundian institutions.

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Residents of Cibitoke check their names on voter lists at a voter card collection center, May 14, 2025 (SOS Médias Burundi)