Evariste Ndayishimiye has been selected as the candidate of the country’s ruling party ahead of the presidential election scheduled for next year, according to a statement released on Sunday.
The announcement confirmed that Ndayishimiye, 57, who has led the East African nation since 2020, will represent the party after assuming office following the death of longtime leader Pierre Nkurunziza.
In a post shared on X, the governing party, CNDD-FDD, declared him its official pick for a seven-year term, although an exact election date has not yet been set.
Responding on the same platform, Ndayishimiye expressed appreciation to party members, saying he was grateful for their confidence in him.
He further pledged continuity in governance, stating his commitment to ongoing national efforts aimed at ensuring stability and prosperity for the country.
A former army general and past leader of the ruling party, Ndayishimiye is widely viewed as the frontrunner in the upcoming contest, having previously served in several senior roles under Nkurunziza before winning the presidency in 2020. That election was marred by fraud allegations and the exclusion of his main challenger.
Opposition figures have already raised concerns about the credibility of the upcoming vote. A spokesperson for the Movement for Solidarity and Development (MSD), Epitace Nshimirimana, argued that the election would fall short of international democratic standards.
He criticised the current administration, claiming it has failed to resolve economic challenges such as fuel shortages, foreign exchange scarcity, and access to basic necessities, and warned that extending its mandate would worsen hardship.
Since taking office, Ndayishimiye has alternated between reform efforts aimed at reducing military influence in government and maintaining tight political control.
Human rights organisations and the United Nations have repeatedly raised concerns about abuses in Burundi, a nation of around 15 million people that remains among the world’s poorest.
This month, the country’s media and communications minister died in a reported road accident, though authorities have said investigations are ongoing amid uncertainty over the exact cause.
Separately, former Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni, who had been serving a life sentence over an alleged coup attempt, was released on medical grounds last month. He previously served from 2020 until his dismissal in 2022, shortly after warnings of a suspected plot against the president.
Burundi’s political instability traces back to the 2015 crisis triggered by former President Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term, which sparked violent unrest. The aftermath included widespread repression involving killings, disappearances, torture, and sexual violence, leaving about 1,200 people dead and forcing roughly 40,000 citizens into exile, according to the International Criminal Court.
Currently, Ndayishimiye also serves as chair of the African Union, a role he is expected to hold for one year starting in February.