Photo of the Week – Five years in Power: President Ndayishimiye celebrates his “Victory over the opposition” during a crusade in Gitega

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, June 24, 2025 —
Five years after assuming power, Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye marked his fifth anniversary with a religious crusade in Gitega, blending prayers with strong political messages. Proud of the path taken, he claimed a symbolic victory over the opposition. However, amid an economic crisis and public disillusionment, his triumphant rhetoric struggles to conceal the growing national malaise.

A packed day: between mass and political messaging

The day began with an inaugural mass at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Magarama, celebrated by Archbishop Bonaventure Nahimana of Gitega. The Archbishop described the event as a time of thanksgiving for the “progress achieved” in the country, while urging unity, forgiveness, and national reconciliation.

“Every human endeavor has its flaws,” he reminded in his homily, encouraging the acknowledgment of governance errors and hope for a better future.

“Adonijah,” “Solomon,” and victory over rival ambitions

On the stage at Ingoma Stadium, the President reflected at length on his five-year term, comparing it to the first seven years of King David’s biblical reign, marked by trials and resistance.

Without naming anyone, he alluded to political opponents who, according to him, tried to challenge his leadership since 2020.

“Someone once nicknamed me Adonijah, Adonijah who self-proclaimed himself; another saw himself as Solomon, thinking he could overthrow me, but all that was just vain ambition,” he said, visibly satisfied to have “tamed” the opposition.

He also praised the ruling party CNDD-FDD’s longevity in power since 2005, asserting that Burundians — Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa — reaffirmed their support during the June 5, 2025 elections. The president denounced colonial legacies and past political duality that once divided the nation.

A deafening silence on the economic crisis

While the country faces a severe economic downturn, President Ndayishimiye made no mention of the hardships burdening Burundians. Fuel shortages, lack of foreign currency, and the scarcity of essential goods like sugar and beverages remain pressing issues left unaddressed in his speech.

Institutional attendance, but limited popular support

Despite the solemnity of the event, the crusade drew a modest crowd. Ingoma Stadium was far from full, mostly populated by administrative officials and ruling party members. The noticeable absence of ordinary citizens raises questions about the regime’s genuine public support.

Five key moments of Ndayishimiye’s term (2020–2025)

1. Urgent Swearing-in (June 2020)
   Ndayishimiye ascended to the presidency following the unexpected death of Pierre Nkurunziza, just days after the general elections.
2. Anti-Corruption Crusade (2021)
   Launch of a campaign to moralize public life, with mixed results.
3. COVID-19 Management
   The president acknowledged the virus and encouraged prevention, breaking from the denial of the previous regime.
4. Crackdown on the Opposition (2022–2024)
   Arrests of CNL members, shrinking civic space, and increasing allegations of political repression.
5. June 2025 Legislative and Local Elections
   The CNDD-FDD swept all seats in the National Assembly, in a vote widely seen as closed and disputed by the opposition.

A disputed legacy

Despite the president’s triumphant tone, many political analysts argue that his five-year term will be remembered for unfulfilled promises, authoritarian governance, and a deepening economic crisis — leaving behind a legacy broadly perceived as a failure.

Photo Caption:
President Évariste Ndayishimiye and his wife, Angeline Ndayishimiye, during a thanksgiving mass at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Magarama. A moment of prayer while the country grapples with multiple crises. (SOS Médias Burundi)