GNV News 2025 June 18

On 2025 June 11, Burundi’s electoral commission announced that in the parliamentary elections held on the 5th of the same month, the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) won all the seats. Parties other than CNDD-FDD failed to win at least 2% of the vote and therefore did not obtain seats under constitutional provisions. The ruling CNDD-FDD won over 96% of the vote, and, apart from the National Union for Progress (UPRONA), which received 1.3%, all other parties had less than 1% of the vote.  

However, the results have been criticized by opposition politicians and human rights groups. Opposition parties including the National Union for Progress and the National Congress for Liberty (CNL) have intensified their accusations of electoral fraud. According to Human Rights Watch, the parliamentary elections were held amid severe restrictions on freedom of expression and political activity. For example, some candidates from parties including CNL, which had been the largest opposition party in the previous parliament, were barred from running in the first place. In addition, the ruling party’s youth organization, the Imbonerakure, monitored and intimidated people to vote for the ruling party both during and outside the election period.

Burundi is currently facing a severe economic and social crisis. With about 55% of the population—7.8 million people—living on less than US$2 per day, inflation over 40%, soaring fuel prices, chronic shortages of goods, and a shortage of foreign currency are further squeezing people’s lives. The situation has also been compounded by the renewed escalation in early 2025 of the ongoing conflict in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has driven as many as 70,000 people to seek refuge in Burundi. Burundi has deployed troops to this conflict since 2023. Even under these circumstances, the ruling CNDD-FDD has been sharply criticized for suppressing dissent and seeking to strengthen an authoritarian regime.

Learn more about election coverage in the Global South →「Election coverage in the Global South: What are the keys?」

Learn more about countries around Burundi →「Concern for the future of democracy in Botswana」「A crisis of democracy?: Mozambique as seen in the 2023 local elections」

The flag of Burundi symbolizing hope (green), peace (white), and the struggle for independence (red) (Photo: Dave Proffer / Wikimedia Commons [CC BY 2.0])