Eleven political parties in Burundi have announced their support for President Evariste Ndayishimiye’s bid for a second term in the 2027 presidential election, as opposition party Sahwanya-Frodebu has said it will boycott the vote.
The parties announced their decision at a news conference in the economic capital, Bujumbura, on Tuesday. They include FROLINA, RADEBU, KAZE-FDD, MSP-INKINZO, PL, MPH, PIEBU, PLP, PMP, SANGWE-PADER and RPB.
The parties said they had agreed to support the ruling CNDD-FDD’s candidate, Ndayishimiye, whom the party selected in April 2026 to represent it in the presidential election.
They justified their endorsement by citing what they described as his “relentless fight against corruption and economic malpractice”, which they said demonstrated a commitment to good governance in the service of the people.
They also praised his defence of the country’s territorial integrity and what they described as his firm protection of Burundi’s political and economic independence.
President Ndayishimiye thanked the eleven parties for their support, calling their decision a sign of democratic maturity, according to a statement published on the X account of the Office of the President.
He said democracy should not be measured by the number of political parties but by citizens’ freedom to choose their leaders. He also welcomed what he described as the parties’ willingness to unite around a shared vision and combine their efforts to address the country’s challenges.
The announcement follows a similar declaration in September by FNL party, led by Jacques Bigirimana, which also pledged to support Ndayishimiye’s re-election bid.
However, opposition party Sahwanya-Frodebu announced in October that it would not take part in the 2027 presidential election, citing what it said was the failure to address irregularities that marred the 2025 elections. The authorities have repeatedly rejected allegations of electoral wrongdoing.
The presidential election is scheduled for May 3, 2027, according to the timetable published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).
In late October, the electoral commission conducted a supplementary voter registration exercise for people who had not registered for the 2025 elections. On Nov. 4, Ndayishimiye signed a decree formally calling voters to the presidential election.
Several other political parties have also announced their candidates. They include Gabriel Banzawitonde of APDR, Abel Gashatsi of UPRONA, Francis Rohero of FPI, Gaspard Kobako of AND Intadohoka and Valentin Kavakure of FPN Imboneza.
Despite the growing list of declared candidates, the election is shaping up to be a potentially uneven contest, with the ruling CNDD-FDD maintaining a dominant position in the country’s political landscape.
The party, which has been in power since 2005, won all seats in parliament in the disputed 2025 legislative elections, according to results announced by CENI. It also secured overwhelming control of local councils in the same electoral cycle.
The opposition’s participation in the presidential race remains uncertain, particularly regarding the National Congress for Liberty (CNL), led by Nestor Girukwishaka.
The party has yet to announce whether it will field a candidate, following a Supreme Court ruling in September on its internal leadership dispute with Agathon Rwasa, its former leader and a prominent opposition figure.
Rwasa remains an influential figure in Burundian politics, but he has yet to announce whether he intends to run as an independent candidate, leaving his political future ahead of the 2027 election uncertain
