Burundi’s ruling party, the CNDD-FDD, has claimed a complete victory in the country’s legislative elections, winning all 100 contested seats, according to final results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) on Wednesday. The party secured 96.51% of the national vote, while no other party crossed the 2% threshold required for parliamentary representation.
The opposition, particularly the National Congress for Liberty (CNL), has denounced the results as fraudulent. CNL leaders were removed from office prior to the election, and several of its members were reportedly harassed, detained, or barred from campaigning. On election day, opposition polling agents were arrested in several provinces, raising concerns over the legitimacy of the process. Civil society groups and international observers have also flagged irregularities, citing a climate of fear, lack of transparency, and improbable results—such as some polling stations reporting 100% turnout for the ruling party with no invalid ballots.
President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who took office in 2020 promising reforms and dialogue, now presides over a one-party National Assembly, intensifying fears of democratic backsliding. The CNDD-FDD has ruled Burundi since 2005 and now consolidates near-total political control at a time when the country is grappling with economic hardship, rising inflation, and limited foreign investment. Analysts warn that the absence of parliamentary opposition could further erode checks on executive power and isolate Burundi from international democratic norms.
