BUJUMBURA – Burundi’s ruling CNDD-FDD party has officially designated President Évariste Ndayishimiye as its candidate for the upcoming presidential election, signaled during high-level party briefings this week.
Ndayishimiye, 57, who took office in 2020, will seek a potential seven-year mandate. The announcement comes at a challenging time for Burundi, which is grappling with inflation exceeding 35% and a high external debt-to-GDP ratio.
While the government has made strides in mending ties with Western donors—notably the U.S. and UK—civil society groups continue to raise concerns over the shrinking space for political opposition and media freedom ahead of the electoral cycle.
