GITEGA, Burundi — Burundi officially launched its 2025 electoral campaign with a national ceremony marked by a parade, political addresses, and calls for peaceful, inclusive elections.
The event, held in Gitega, began with a parade led by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), followed by national and provincial-level staff, starting with representatives from Buhumuza province. Registered political parties participated in the procession according to their order on the CENI registry, with candidates themselves marching—an estimated 10,000 individuals representing more than 22 political parties. The ruling CNDD-FDD party had the largest representation.
In his opening remarks, Gitega Governor Venan Manirambona welcomed participants and described the event as a milestone in national unity, commending the joint presence of all political parties. He urged a campaign season marked by peace and harmony.
Independent candidate Dieudonné Nahimana praised the event for reinforcing democratic values. He emphasized the contributions of individuals who, under the constitution—such as judges, security personnel, and religious leaders—are barred from party membership, yet still play a role in national development. Nahimana urged the electoral commission to ease the requirements for independent candidates seeking seats in the National Assembly and appealed to President Évariste Ndayishimiye to continue fostering democracy, peace, and inclusion.
Nestor Girukwishaka, chair of the National Congress for Liberty (CNL) and speaking on behalf of the opposition, affirmed the opposition’s commitment to the electoral process. He called for adherence to electoral laws and praised recent civic mobilization efforts. However, he criticized CENI for underrepresenting his party, which he said holds significant national support yet comprises only 0.23% of CENI staff—164 out of more than 70,000. He also called for equitable media access, particularly on national television, and urged authorities to maintain a level playing field throughout the campaign.
Representing the coalition of legally recognized political parties, CNDD-FDD Secretary-General Révérien Ndikuriyo welcomed the campaign’s launch as a democratic milestone. He praised what he described as a shift toward respectful discourse and emphasized the ruling party’s focus on training future leaders, particularly youth. He encouraged all parties to embrace democratic principles and highlighted national development projects undertaken by CNDD-FDD.
CENI Chairman Prosper Ntahorwamiye expressed appreciation to the president for guidance issued to political parties ahead of the campaign season. He stated that preparations have been aligned with the country’s new administrative structure and reminded political actors that all activities must adhere to electoral laws. Ntahorwamiye announced that eligible voters would be able to collect their voting cards from May 12 to 14 and confirmed that the official campaign period would run from May 13 to June 2.
President Evariste Ndayishimiye formally opened the campaign, urging citizens to turn a new page in the country’s political history. He highlighted the success of civic education campaigns and underscored the importance of national unity, which he said had been undermined by colonial-era divisions.
“Democracy is the cure for poor governance and misunderstanding,” Ndayishimiye said, calling on candidates to demonstrate integrity and focus on serving the people. He stressed the importance of mutual respect, warned against infringing on others’ freedoms, and pledged government neutrality throughout the campaign.
The president addressed concerns raised by opposition parties regarding access to venues, assuring that any attempts to hinder campaigning would be punished. He praised young people for viewing elections as civic duties rather than conflict and urged candidates to avoid inflammatory rhetoric. He also promised fair distribution of campaign resources, including fuel, to all parties.
“The government instructs its institutions to remain impartial,” he said. “All political parties and candidates must be treated equally, especially concerning media access.”
The electoral calendar includes legislative and communal council elections on June 5, followed by senatorial elections on July 23 and village council elections on August 25.
As the campaign officially begins, all stakeholders have been urged to maintain peace, respect the law, and work collectively toward national development.
