President Évariste Ndayishimiye says 11 political parties have agreed to support his candidacy in Burundi’s 2027 presidential election, adding a new political alignment ahead of the May 3 vote.
In a statement posted on X on Nov. 9, Ndayishimiye said he had received representatives of the 11 parties, which had united to endorse him in the upcoming elections.
“After receiving 11 political parties that came together and decided to support us in the elections scheduled for 2027, we greatly appreciated that decision,” Ndayishimiye wrote in Kirundi.
He described the endorsement as “another step in democracy,” saying it placed the general interest and the welfare of citizens first.
The president did not name the 11 parties or disclose whether their decision involved a formal electoral coalition, a joint endorsement or an agreement to support his candidacy while maintaining their separate political identities.
The announcement comes less than a week before the start of presidential candidate registration. Under the electoral calendar, applications are scheduled to be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) from Nov. 13 to 22. The presidential election is scheduled for May 3, 2027.
Ndayishimiye was designated as the presidential candidate of the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) at the party’s congress on April 26, 2026.
Political divisions ahead of the election
The endorsement comes amid differing positions among Burundi’s political parties over preparations for the 2027 elections.
In May, five parties, the Union for National Progress (UPRONA), National Congress for Liberty (CNL), Sahwanya-FRODEBU, the Council of Patriots for Democracy (CODEBU) and the Convention for Democracy and Prosperity (CDP) called for political dialogue with Ndayishimiye and raised concerns about the electoral process.
The parties questioned whether the composition of the CENI could guarantee credible and inclusive elections. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of a May 15 meeting with the president, saying their concerns had not been adequately addressed.
Separately, about 20 political parties aligned with the ruling CNDD-FDD issued a joint statement on May 22 supporting the electoral process and expressing confidence in the dialogue initiated by Ndayishimiye.
The latest announcement does not establish how much electoral support the 11 parties command or whether they intend to participate in a formal coalition. Their identities and the terms of their endorsement have not been made public yet.
The development adds to the political alignments taking shape ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as parties prepare to decide whether to field their own candidates or support other contenders.
