As Burundi joined the world in commemorating International Workers’ Day on Thursday, tensions over worsening economic conditions and governance failures dominated the national mood. In Bujumbura, the country’s economic capital, labor leaders, civil society organizations, and the president delivered sharply contrasting messages on the state of the working population and the public sector.
Addressing the crowd, Célestin Nsavyimana, chairman of COSYBU—the country’s largest trade union—delivered a stark message: the daily struggles of Burundian public servants are intensifying, while meaningful reforms remain elusive.
“Prices of basic necessities have reached unprecedented levels, making life unbearable,” Nsavyimana said. “Fuel shortages are now part of daily life. People are losing options. We urgently need dialogue that includes all major political players to find practical solutions to the cost-of-living crisis.”
The union leader didn’t stop there. He openly criticized what he described as rampant politicization in public sector hiring, saying jobs are increasingly awarded based on party loyalty rather than qualifications.
“In many institutions, merit has been pushed aside,” he said. “Job opportunities are no longer earned through fair competition, but rather through political connections. It’s a system that discourages honest work and encourages corruption.”
Nsavyimana warned that such practices not only disempower workers but deepen inequality and fuel resentment. “When hard work no longer counts, it’s the country that suffers. A few individuals enrich themselves while the rest fall further behind.”
That sentiment was echoed by PARCEM, a prominent civil society group that issued a detailed statement urging comprehensive reform of the country’s public administration. The organization pointed to chronic issues such as political interference, inflated staffing, and so-called “ghost workers”—fictitious employees whose salaries are siphoned off by corrupt officials.
“Appointments and promotions based on political favoritism have become a serious obstacle to an efficient and neutral civil service,” PARCEM said in a statement posted on social media platform X. “Some officials misuse strategic roles for personal enrichment, creating a climate of impunity.”
The group also criticized the lack of digital infrastructure and lingering conflicts of interest, warning that such weaknesses stifle public service delivery and discourage private investment. “Illicit payments, forced contributions, and administrative bottlenecks are turning the public sector into a hostile environment for entrepreneurship,” the statement read.
Presidency Pushes Back, Blaming Citizens’ Attitudes
As the labor movement and civil society demanded reform, President Evariste Ndayishimiye offered a sharply contrasting view. In his Labor Day address, the president dismissed much of the criticism, instead urging workers to focus on boosting productivity.
“You say life is hard—so tell me, if you don’t work to improve life, how will it get better?” he asked. “Do you expect to just sit in your offices and wait for things to change?”
He went on to accuse some citizens of wasting time and resources. “People complain about poverty, but many spend their days drinking or engaging in prostitution,” he said. “These complaints are just noise—meant to blame leaders instead of looking inward.”
While the president condemned nepotism and favoritism in public appointments, calling those who engage in such practices a “national disgrace,” he also challenged unions and public servants to take a more active role in exposing corruption.
“Those with unexplained wealth are often the ones inflating procurement costs behind closed doors,” he said. “If it happens in your department and you stay silent, you are complicit.”
In light of these tensions, both COSYBU and PARCEM reiterated their call for a national forum on civil service reform—one that would confront long-standing problems and revive past reform proposals that were never implemented.
“We must draw lessons from the past and create a roadmap for change,” Nsavyimana urged. “This is about restoring integrity to the public service and offering Burundians a fair chance at a better life.”
Leave a comment