Latest news with #EvaristeNdayishimiye
Morocco World
4 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Burundi Holds Legislative Elections Amid Tight Presidential Control
Burundians have gone to the polls on Thursday in a vote for the 123-seat National Legislative Assembly. This election is seen as a test of Evariste Ndayishimiye's presidency. Ndayishimiye has been the president of Burundi since the 2020 election. He secured the leadership of the ruling party CNDD-FDD after the death of previous president Pierre Nkurunziza. Despite being credited for ending Burundi's long period of isolationism, Ndayishimiye has been criticised for his poor human rights record. This election has been tightly controlled by the government as according to one commentator the government is taking no chances. The opposition has been constrained with popular opposition leader Agathon Rwasa being ousted while abroad in 2023. There have been multiple accusations that this was due to a government backed internal party coup d'etat. Many other opposition leaders have been banned from running in the election with rival parties constrained. Gabriel Banzawitonde, leader of the APDR, the alliance pour la paix la démocratie et la réconciliation, stated that 'people are so intimidated that they tell you that you cannot wear any party colours other than the ruling party ones'. Human rights observers have criticised the high-level of intimidation that voters have experienced particularly from the violent CNDD-FDD student organisation There remain several widespread issues within Burundi including, rising inflation to around 40%, chronic shortages in essentials like oil, and large levels of poverty at around 66%. This has led to growing popular dissatisfaction within the country. Despite this Ndayishimiye's party is almost certain to win the presidential election. While casting his ballot in Gitega province the president made a statement 'the population is driven by patriotic spirit, democracy is rooted in Burundi.' The president argued that the high voter turnout was a positive sign, but this might not be the case as one man stated that he was scared because 'some officials check if you have voted.' This election demonstrates clearly that Burundi is still an African one-party authoritarian dictatorship under President Ndayishimiye. Tags: Africa politicsBurundiBurundi electionslegislative electionspolitics
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Burundi votes in election with opposition sidelined
Representative AI image Voters in Burundi went to the polls to vote for a new parliament on Thursday, with the outcome almost predetermined after the main opposition was effectively blocked from competing. The ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party, led by President Evariste Ndayishimiye, faces little electoral threat after a series of moves neutralized its primary rival, the National Freedom Council (CNL). What do we know about the Burundi election? The CNL, which placed second in the 2020 election amid alleged widespread fraud, was suspended in 2023 by the Interior Ministry over alleged "irregularities" in how it held meetings. Later that year, while party leader Agathon Rwasa was abroad, the CNL ousted him in a move widely seen as orchestrated by the government. He was replaced by Nestor Girukwishaka — a former minister and executive at a state-owned company with close ties to the ruling party — prompting accusations of a government-backed internal coup. Rwasa and his allies have since been barred from joining other opposition groups or standing as independents, effectively shutting them out of Thursday's vote. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo One Burundian political analyst, speaking anonymously to the AFP news agency because of security fears, told the CNDD-FDD was leaving nothing to chance amid "a very deep socio-economic crisis." Burundi, a former German colony, faces poverty and economic crisis The country, already one of the poorest in the world, is grappling with widespread shortages, soaring inflation—reportedly exceeding 40% monthly—and rising public anger. Burundi, a former German colony, has a long history of ethnic conflict, civil war, and authoritarian rule. Thursday's vote, observers say, will likely reinforce the ruling party's grip on power as it faces mounting internal pressure over economic mismanagement and political repression.
DW
5 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Burundi votes in election with opposition sidelined – DW – 06/05/2025
Burundi is heading to the polls in a tightly controlled vote expected to favor the ruling party. The opposition has been blocked as the country faces deepening economic crisis. Voters in Burundi went to the polls to vote for a new parliament on Thursday, with the outcome almost predetermined after the main opposition was effectively blocked from competing. The ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party, led by President Evariste Ndayishimiye, faces little electoral threat after a series of moves neutralized its primary rival, the National Freedom Council (CNL). What do we know about the Burundi election? The CNL, which placed second in the 2020 election amid alleged widespread fraud, was suspended in 2023 by the Interior Ministry over alleged "irregularities" in how it held meetings. Later that year, while party leader Agathon Rwasa was abroad, the CNL ousted him in a move widely seen as orchestrated by the government. He was replaced by Nestor Girukwishaka — a former minister and executive at a state-owned company with close ties to the ruling party — prompting accusations of a government-backed internal coup. Rwasa and his allies have since been barred from joining other opposition groups or standing as independents, effectively shutting them out of Thursday's vote. One Burundian political analyst, speaking anonymouslyto the AFP news agency because of security fears, told the CNDD-FDD was leaving nothing to chance amid "a very deep socio-economic crisis." Burundi: Students boost food security with AI To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Burundi, a former German colony, faces poverty and economic crisis The country, already one of the poorest in the world, is grappling with widespread shortages, soaring inflation—reportedly exceeding 40% monthly—and rising public anger. Burundi, a former German colony, has a long history of ethnic conflict, civil war, and authoritarian rule. Thursday's vote, observers say, will likely reinforce the ruling party's grip on power as it faces mounting internal pressure over economic mismanagement and political repression. Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Burundi votes but with opposition neutered
Burundi votes for a new parliament on Thursday but with little risk of an upset after the main opposition was effectively barred from running. The impoverished, landlocked country in east Africa has seen decades of ethnic violence, civil war and authoritarian rule. The ruling CNDD-FDD party of President Evariste Ndayishimiye is accused of undermining its main opponent, the National Freedom Council (CNL), which came second at the last election in 2020 and claimed it was cheated. In 2023, the interior ministry suspended the CNL over "irregularities" in the way it organised its meetings. Then last year, the CNL ousted its leader, former militia commander-turned-politician Agathon Rwasa, while he was abroad. He was replaced by someone considered close to the ruling party, Nestor Girukwishaka, a former minister and senior executive at a state-owned company -- in what critics described as a government-orchestrated coup. The government then passed new rules that effectively barred Rwasa and his allies from joining other opposition parties or standing as independents. A Burundian analyst, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the ruling party was taking no chances because the elections were taking place amid "a very deep socio-economic crisis". The analyst said the country was facing "all sorts of shortages, galloping inflation of more than 40 percent per month and growing popular discontent". - 'Very difficult for us' - President Ndayishimiye took over following the death of his predecessor, Pierre Nkurunziza, who had isolated the country with his brutal and chaotic rule since 2005. While Ndayishimiye has been seen as relatively less authoritarian, Burundi's human rights record remains poor, with journalists, activists and opposition figures all facing severe repression. One of the candidates for Thursday's election, Patrick Nkurunziza -- no relation to the previous president -- of the opposition coalition Burundi for All, told AFP the campaign had been "very difficult for us". He said his members faced "threats, harassment and sometimes even attacks" from a government-aligned youth league known as the Imbonerakure. A group of media executives last month accused the Imbonerakure of arresting and torturing a journalist while he tried to work at the University of Burundi in the capital Bujumbura. A fuel shortage that has largely paralysed the country for nearly three years also made it difficult for opposition candidates to operate, said Nkurunziza. "In the absence of Agathon Rwasa's CNL, the CNDD-FDD is sure to win," said the analyst. Most of the other candidates are "token candidates, who are there just to show that democracy is still happening in Burundi", they added. Burundi experienced decades of ethnic violence and civil war up to 2005. Under a peace agreement signed in 2000, seats in the parliament are split 60-40 between the two ethnic groups, Hutu and Tutsi. Burundi remains one of the world's poorest countries with almost two-thirds living below the World Bank's poverty line of $2.15 per day.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Burundi says Rwanda has a plan to attack it, Rwanda calls for calm
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye said he had seen "credible intelligence" that Rwanda has a plan to attack his country, whose forces have battled Rwandan-backed rebels in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. He did not elaborate on the alleged plan, which was dismissed by Rwanda, and said he hoped the problem could be resolved through dialogue. "We know that he has a plan to attack Burundi," Ndayishimiye told the BBC in an interview, referring to Rwandan President Paul Kagame. "Burundians will not accept to be killed as Congolese are being killed. Burundian people are fighters," he said. Rwanda's foreign minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, described the statement as "unfortunate", adding in a post on X that the two countries were holding discussions and had agreed on the need for military and verbal de-escalation. Ndayishimiye's comments underscored the regional stakes of the conflict in eastern Congo, where an advance by M23 rebels since January has captured swathes of territory and killed thousands. A war in eastern Congo from 1998-2003 drew in more than half-dozen foreign armies. This time, Rwanda has sent arms and troops to support M23, according to the United Nations, while Burundian troops have been fighting alongside Congolese forces. Rwanda denies supporting M23, saying its forces are acting in self defence against Congo's army and militias hostile to Kigali. Burundi has had troops in Congo for years to hunt down Burundian rebels there. It withdrew most of its 12,000 troops from Congo in February, a Burundian officer and diplomatic sources told Reuters. Burundian and Rwandan officials have met several times in recent weeks and agreed for the Rwandan army and M23 not to occupy the Congolese territory of Uvira, which is close to Burundi's commercial capital Bujumbura, according to four sources with knowledge of the talks. The two countries have confirmed meetings have taken place, without going into specifics.
