Introduction
Burundi’s legislative and local elections, held on 5th June 2025, unfolded in a deeply repressive political environment, marked by widespread restrictions on free expression, political participation, and media independence. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) announced that the ruling National Council for the Defence of Democracy – Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party had secured 96.5 per cent of the vote and all contested seats in the National Assembly, as well as complete control of commune-level councils. The electoral process was marred by reports of intimidation, harassment, and threats by ruling party officials and the Imbonerakure militia, the CNDD-FDD’s youth league, who allegedly coerced voters and obstructed opposition participation. Voters and civil society actors reported ruling party dominance at polling stations, ballot stuffing, inflated voter turnout, and exclusion of opposition members. Media faced heavy censorship, with all election-related coverage reportedly vetted by a central editorial team under the Ministry of Communication. Election observers, journalists, and opposition agents were denied access to polling and vote-counting centres, further eroding the credibility of the process and entrenching authoritarian control.
Association
Between March and April 2025, authorities in Burundi intensified violations of the right to freedom of association through targeted abductions and arbitrary arrests of opposition members affiliated with the National Congress for Liberty (CNL). On 22nd March, police officers and members of the Imbonerakure abducted Emmanuel Bizimana, a CNL member. On 7th April, Pontien Ndayikeje, one of the leaders of a CNL faction aligned with Agathon Rwasa, the historic CNL leader who was ousted following a CNDD-FDD-led plot to take control of CNL, was arbitrarily arrested by agents of the National Intelligence Service (SNR). In a similar incident, Édouard Nzambimana, also a leader within the same faction, was seized by SNR agents in Mukaza commune and taken to an undisclosed location. While Mr. Ndayikeje was later transferred to Mpimba Central Prison, the charges against both men remain unspecified.
On 14th April, CNL members Thierry Gatore and Thierry Ndayishimiye were arrested in Kayogoro by Imbonerakure elements with police backing and accused of disseminating anonymous leaflets attributed to the Burundi Democracy Liberation Force (BDLF-Abisezerano). Both were detained in Kayogoro jail. The following day, Aimable Nkunzumwami, an advisor at the Ministry of Youth and the national youth representative of the CNL, disappeared en route to work. He has not been heard from since. These incidents form part of a broader pattern of politically motivated harassment, in which CNL activists are subjected to abductions, unlawful detention and, in some cases, enforced disappearances, aimed at dismantling internal party structures and silencing dissent.
On 15th May 2025, Dismas Minani, the provincial representative of the “Burundi Bwa Bose” coalition in Ngozi province, and other coalition members were violently assaulted by members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party. Eyewitnesses reported that the group was ambushed by CNDD-FDD affiliates led by Pascal Nyabenda, a local Imbonerakure leader. The attackers severely beat the victims, who sustained serious injuries, and proceeded to extort a motorcycle and cash amounting to 1,087,000 Burundian francs (approx. 350 US dollars). Despite the gravity of the assault, the perpetrators remain at large, with no investigation launched to hold them accountable.
Peaceful Assembly
On 21st April 2025, a peaceful sit-in protest organised by former clients of the “Ineza” microfinance institution at Kinama market in Bujumbura was forcibly dispersed by SNR agents and the National Police of Burundi (PNB). The protestors were demanding the return of their savings following the abrupt closure and bankruptcy declaration of Ineza in January 2025. Despite the non-violent nature of the assembly, security forces arrested approximately 50 protestors, accusing them of participating in an unauthorised gathering and attempting to destabilise the electoral environment. The protestors were later released.
Expression
On 14th February 2025, the Burundian government expelled Sibi Lawson-Marriot, the World Food Programme (WFP) representative, and Sarah Nguyen, the organisation’s security officer, accusing them of “endangering state security.” The expulsion followed the circulation of internal security guidance, originally intended for WFP staff, advising them to stockpile essentials such as food, water, fuel, and cash in anticipation of a potential crisis. Once leaked on social media, these instructions were perceived by Burundian authorities as alarmist and a deliberate attempt to incite panic within the diplomatic community and broader population. The two officials were given 48 hours to leave the country. This incident unfolded against a backdrop of heightened national tension and regional insecurity, particularly Burundi’s military involvement alongside Kinshasa in combatting the M23 rebellion.
Burundian authorities intensified restrictions on freedom of expression by arresting and imprisoning four individuals over private messages shared in a family WhatsApp group discussing the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The group reportedly contained messages that praised the M23 rebel group, backed by Rwanda and currently engaged in hostilities with the army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and its allies, including Burundian troops. The messages, deemed politically sensitive, triggered the arrest of two police officers: Lieutenant Kévin Nishimwe on 13th February and Second Lieutenant Albert Ndayisaba on 23rd March, as well as Manassé Nizigiyimana of SWAA Burundi on 2nd March and Jérémie Manirakiza, Secretary General of the Burundi Football Federation, on 27th March. Intelligence services were reportedly alerted after members of the group shared screenshots of the conversations with authorities. All four were transferred to Mpimba Central Prison on 5th April, following judicial hearings.
During the peaceful sit-in protest that took place in front of the “Ineza”microfinance institution (see peaceful assembly section), security agents arbitrarily arrested two journalists, namely Willy Kwizera of Radio Bonesha FM and Ahmed Masudi Mugiraneza of Radio Scolaire Nderagakura, while they were covering the event. Although both presented valid press credentials issued by the National Communication Council (CNC), they were accused of reporting without local authorisation and of supporting an alleged insurgency. The journalists were released later that evening following interventions by the CNC and media leadership.
On 28th April 2025, journalist Willy Kwizera of Bonesha FM was violently assaulted and unlawfully detained by student representatives at the University of Burundi’s Mutanga campus while reporting on students’ living conditions. Kwizera recounted that he was harassed, beaten, and locked in the student union office during the incident. He claims that he was ambushed after requesting permission to conduct interviews and had his equipment, identification documents, and personal belongings confiscated. The student representatives, whom he believed to be linked to the Imbonerakure, accused him of attempting to tarnish the country’s image, disrupt elections, and collaborating with exiled activists.