Burundi : Évariste Ndayishimiye nominated as CNDD-FDD candidate for a second term amid a show of force

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, April 26, 2026 – In Gitega, the political capital of Burundi, the ruling CNDD-FDD party nominated President Évariste Ndayishimiye as its candidate for re-election in the 2027 presidential election on Sunday, April 26, 2026, during an extraordinary congress held at the John Paul II Major Seminary.

In his speech, the head of state outlined his program, emphasizing the strengthening of security, the establishment of a fair justice system, and the fight against poverty through the improvement of living conditions for the population. He also stressed the need to reduce dependence on foreign aid and prioritize the development of local production.

Évariste Ndayishimiye further promised to revitalize several key sectors, including agriculture, livestock farming, mining, education, and governance. He also called on party officials with presidential ambitions to wait until 2034.

The event was marked by criticism regarding access to information, as only selected journalists were allowed to cover the congress, fueling accusations of press freedom restrictions. Several diplomats accredited to Burundi attended the meeting, along with representatives of civil society and political groups close to the government.

Following the congress, a demonstration of strength was organized in the streets of Gitega in the presence of the Head of State. A large turnout was observed, notably with the participation of the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the CNDD-FDD.

This congress takes place against a backdrop of power consolidation in the lead-up to the 2027 elections, within a political landscape largely dominated by the CNDD-FDD, which has been in power since 2005 following the 2000 Arusha Agreement and the controversial third term of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza. Since the 2015 crisis, which deeply divided the political class and led to the exile of several opposition figures, the political landscape remains marked by a persistent imbalance.

Among the leading opposition figures, Agathon Rwasa, long considered the main challenger to the government, has seen his political room for maneuver gradually diminish in recent years, amidst a realignment and weakening of the forces opposed to the CNDD-FDD.