Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye has openly criticized members of his own ruling party, the CNDD-FDD, accusing some of them of loving the party more than the country.
Speaking during a moralization session with senior government officials appointed by presidential decree in Gitega, the country’s political capital earlier this week, the president expressed disappointment over what he described as misplaced loyalty among certain party loyalists, known as Bagumyabanga.
“To love your country, you must know it,” President Ndayishimiye said, adding that many actions—or inactions—by CNDD-FDD members reveal a lack of patriotism.
He highlighted a striking example to illustrate his point: some schools in Burundi reportedly operate without displaying the national flag.
“Just a small parenthesis,” he told the gathering. “Did you know that there are schools in Burundi that don’t even have a national flag? I know it’s surprising.”
He went on to express disbelief that a school director could manage a public institution without ensuring the presence of the national symbol. “I was shocked to learn that. I never thought a school leader could run a school without a flag.”
The president contrasted this with the enthusiasm some CNDD-FDD members show for the party flag. “Some Bagumyabanga —members of CNDD-FDD — can go to the party office and buy a CNDD-FDD flag to put in their home or their neighborhood, but won’t take the initiative to purchase a national flag for a school under their responsibility. That means they love the party more than the country,” he said.
Ndayishimiye criticized such behavior as being driven by self-interest and political ambition rather than a genuine commitment to national development. “It shows they are more concerned about gaining political favor than serving the country.”
Addressing criticism that the CNDD-FDD is edging toward one-party rule—especially after the party won 100% of parliamentary seats and nearly all communal council positions in recent elections—the president dismissed the idea, saying the election results speak for themselves.
“Now everyone has voted for CNDD-FDD. We are all Bagumyabanga,” he said, according to local news site Iris.
However, he assured that political affiliation would no longer determine access to public positions. “From now on, being a member of the winning party will not be enough to get you a job. Even the military and the police voted for CNDD-FDD,” he said.
“We want the most competent, the most patriotic, and the most dynamic individuals,” President Ndayishimiye concluded.
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