President Évariste Ndayishimiye on Friday submitted his application to contest Burundi’s May 3, 2027, presidential election, becoming the first candidate to file nomination papers, according to the ruling CNDD-FDD party.
Ndayishimiye submitted his application to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) in Bujumbura, accompanied by members of the party’s Council of Elders, legal representatives and supporters.
The submission came as the commission opened a 10-day period, from Nov. 13 to Nov. 22, for presidential candidates to present their applications, according to the official electoral calendar.
The ruling party said supporters from Burundi’s five provinces gathered to accompany Ndayishimiye, while members of other political parties also joined the event to express support for his candidacy.
After submitting his application, Ndayishimiye commended parties that intend to field their own candidates, describing the political environment surrounding the election as an expression of pluralism.
Addressing Burundians, the president urged citizens to approach the electoral period with “calm and serenity” and continue their normal activities.
“I thank the ruling party for supporting my candidacy and paying the 100 million francs for the candidature.”
“Any village or province where violence will be reported its the leadership that will be held accountable. We want this election to set an example worldwide how democratic the elections can be,” said Burundi’s president Ndayishimiye after submitting his candidature at the electoral commission in Bujumbura.
Ndayishimiye described the election as an opportunity to demonstrate what he called “the maturity of Burundi’s democracy.”
His candidacy comes amid growing political alignments ahead of the vote. On Nov. 10, 11 political parties announced their support for his bid after presenting a joint declaration to the president at the CNDD-FDD national headquarters in Bujumbura.
The parties pledged to support his candidacy and participate in a joint campaign, according to a statement published by the presidency.
Their endorsement adds to the political support declared for the incumbent ahead of the election, although the extent of their electoral influence has not been independently established.
Electoral process
Under the electoral calendar published by CENI, the commission is scheduled to examine candidacy applications from Nov. 23 to Nov. 26. Candidates whose applications are rejected may appeal, with the final list of approved candidates expected to be published on Dec. 6.
The presidential election is scheduled for May 3, 2027. The official campaign period is set to run from April 10 to April 30.
Ndayishimiye was selected as the CNDD-FDD presidential candidate at the party’s congress on April 26, 2026. He has served as president since 2020, succeeding Pierre Nkurunziza, who died while in office.
While the submission of his application marks a formal step in the electoral process, CENI’s review and validation of candidacies will determine which contenders are officially cleared to participate.
Attention will now turn to other potential candidates, the participation of opposition parties like UPRONA and the conditions under which political actors will compete.
The commission’s ability to oversee the process and ensure compliance with electoral rules will be central as Burundi moves toward the May 2027 presidential vote.
