Révérien Ndikuriyo celebrates re-election at the cost of forced contributions

SOS Médias Burundi

Burundi, April 6, 2026 — On Monday, the province of Burunga, in the south of the small East African nation, was the scene of ceremonies presented as festive celebrations for the re-election of Révérien Ndikuriyo as Secretary General of the CNDD-FDD. Officially organized to congratulate the leader, these events were primarily marked by financial contributions imposed on various categories of civil servants and public employees, sparking outrage and dismay.

According to several accounts, the amounts demanded were strictly distributed : over 50,000 Burundi francs for heads of education departments, 50,000 for heads of services, 20,000 for their advisors, 5,000 for secretaries, 20,000 for heads of zonal services, at least 5,000 for zonal secretaries, 15,000 for school principals, and a minimum of 5,000 francs for teachers and supervisors.

Behind these figures, painful human realities emerge. “We are being asked to contribute while we are already struggling to provide for our families,” confides a teacher, his voice filled with bitterness. For many, these deductions represent an unbearable burden in an already fragile economic context.

Even more seriously, some department heads claim to have been forced to pay up to 250,000 Burundi francs, a sum far exceeding the officially announced amounts. “It’s enormous pressure. Refusing isn’t an option. But paying means going into debt or sacrificing the basic needs of our families,” one of them testified, speaking on condition of anonymity. The overall fundraising goal reportedly reached 115 million Burundi francs.

In the provincial town center, Makamba, a cow, several sheep, and various baskets were offered in a display of generosity, a stark contrast to the sacrifices imposed beforehand. In other provinces, such as Butanyerera in the north, similar levies have been reported, raising fears of these practices becoming widespread.

CNDD-FDD’s explanation and justification

On its Twitter account (formerly known as X), the CNDD-FDD, the former Hutu rebel group that has been in power in Burundi since 2005 following the Arusha Agreement of August 2000, clarified that Révérien Ndikuriyo’s national tour, which began on February 2, 2026, covered all 42 districts of the country, in accordance with the new administrative divisions adopted during the 2025 legislative elections. This initiative aimed to consolidate the party’s structures, strengthen the cohesion of local leaders, and accelerate the implementation of projects stemming from the extraordinary national congress of January 25, 2026, within the framework of Vision 2040-2060, according to the CNDD-FDD’s announcement.

The 2040-2060 Vision, presented by the party and its affiliated institutions, aims to make Burundi an emerging country by 2040 and a fully developed country by 2060. However, many local and international observers consider it utopian, as the country remains among the poorest in the world, facing major economic, social, and infrastructural challenges, compounded by rampant corruption and human rights violations.

During the field meetings, community leaders were equipped and encouraged to embody grassroots leadership, promote collective values, and invest in education and youth through the TURERERE UBURUNDI program. Reporters from SOS Médias Burundi observed that, in most cases, even correspondents from the government press were not allowed to freely follow the activities, revealing a highly controlled communication strategy surrounding the tour.

Révérien Ndikuriyo was re-elected for a second term as Secretary General of the CNDD-FDD following an extraordinary elective congress held on January 25, 2026, in the political capital, Gitega. The congress brought together 1,288 delegates, of whom 1,212 participated in the vote, representing a turnout of 98.69%. He was elected by a large majority, thus confirming his control over the party apparatus.

This re-election and the subsequent tour highlight the tensions between the projected image of development and the harsh socio-economic realities faced by the population, subjected to forced contributions and financial constraints. Mr. Ndikuriyo is from Burunga province, which is now the focus of criticism.