Burundi’s Supreme Court has rejected a petition filed by politician Agathon Rwasa and members of his former CNL leadership team in a long-running dispute over the leadership of the opposition Congrès National de Liberté (CNL) party.
In a ruling delivered publicly on August 7, 2026, the Supreme Court’s Administrative Chamber declared the petition inadmissible, finding that it was unfounded, improperly brought and unrelated to the subject of the main dispute.
The ruling concerns a leadership dispute that began in March 2024, when an extraordinary CNL congress held in Ngozi on March 10 elected a new leadership headed by Nestor Girukwishika. The Ministry of the Interior subsequently formally took note of the outcome in a letter dated March 18, 2024.
According to the Supreme Court ruling, the petition brought by members of the CNL’s 2019 Political Bureau was “unfounded, improperly brought, unrelated to the subject of the main dispute, and consequently inadmissible.”
The court also indicated that the party members challenging the government’s recognition of the new leadership should direct their legal action against the Ministry of the Interior.
Rwasa says he will pursue further legal action
Reacting to the ruling in local media, Rwasa said he was dissatisfied with the judgment and intended to pursue further legal proceedings.
“In its conclusion, the Administrative Chamber claimed that our complaint was inadmissible and that our application had been improperly brought, relying mainly on the fact that the Minister of the Interior, in a letter dated March 18, 2024, recognized the results or the so-called representatives of the party,” Rwasa said.
He argued that the minister did not have the authority to approve the internal acts of a political party.
“The law on political parties provides that the acts of a political party are simply communicated to the competent authority as information; the acts do not require approval by the minister,” he said.
Rwasa also disputed the legal basis for the government’s “taking note” of the CNL congress decisions, arguing that the concept does not appear in the legislation governing political parties and instead applies to non-profit organizations.
The dispute has been before the courts since April 2024. Rwasa has repeatedly criticized the pace of the proceedings, saying the delays were preventing him from continuing his political activities.
CNL leadership says the dispute is over
In a statement issued Thursday, the CNL leadership headed by Girukwishika welcomed the Supreme Court decision and rejected what it described as attempts by Rwasa and his supporters to manipulate public perceptions of the ruling.
The party said the case had been heard in five public hearings since it was filed with the Supreme Court.
“The CNL takes note of the judgment rendered by the Supreme Court, Administrative Chamber, ruling on case RAP 68 after a long and meticulous analysis,” the statement said.
The party called on the petitioners to respect the judgment, which it said was rendered after hearing both sides and constituted a final decision under Article 43 of the law governing the Supreme Court.
According to the CNL leadership, the ruling should now allow the party to move beyond the leadership dispute and rally its members around the leadership established by the March 10, 2024 extraordinary congress.
“From now on, there is no longer any dispute concerning the leadership of the party,” the statement said.
The CNL also praised its members for their patience throughout the judicial proceedings and called on them to preserve unity and cohesion while working to strengthen the party.
Despite the court ruling and the CNL leadership’s call for an end to the dispute, Rwasa has indicated that he intends to remain politically active.
“I believe there are alternatives. We are preparing for the 2027 elections, and we believe that if the rule of law can have its place in this country, there is still a possibility for us to participate in those elections,” he told local newspaper Iwacu.
This article has been updated with a statement from the current CNL leadership
