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yesterday

Burundi’s Ruling CNDD-FDD Secures All Parliamentary Seats as Opposition Denounces Rigging

Critics warn that election-day intimidation has hollowed out political competition in an economically strained nation

Burundi's ruling party won all 100 parliamentary seats in last week's election, according to provisional results
Opposition parties denounced the vote as a sham and claimed there was 'major fraud' everywhere
Burundi voted in parliamentary elections last week
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Overview

  • The Independent National Electoral Commission declared on June 11 that CNDD-FDD won 96.5% of the vote and claimed all 100 seats, with the Constitutional Council set to ratify results on June 20.
  • Human Rights Watch and voter testimony described systematic intimidation by the ruling party’s Imbonerakure youth league, reports of forced voting and instances of ballot stuffing in several communes.
  • Major opposition parties, including the National Congress for Liberty and UPRONA, were barred or effectively sidelined from campaigning, eliminating any genuine electoral challenge.
  • An African Union observation mission praised the elections as peaceful, but critics say its focus on high turnout and media access ignored widespread suppression of dissent.
  • The vote unfolded against a backdrop of 40% inflation, chronic petrol shortages and pervasive poverty that have intensified public frustration with authoritarian rule.