Bujumbura — Burundi’s political landscape is entering a decisive phase as growing tensions within the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) point toward a potential reshaping of the party’s leadership. A high-stakes General Assembly scheduled for January 25, 2025, is widely expected to bring major changes, as divisions deepen between President Évariste Ndayishimiye and influential figures within his own party.
For weeks, signs of internal strain have been building, but recent developments suggest that the party’s long-simmering power struggle is now out in the open. At the center of the dispute is the race to secure the CNDD-FDD nomination for the 2027 presidential election—an issue that has exposed rival camps and competing visions for the future of the party and the country.
A Party Divided Over the Future
The most visible fault line runs between President Ndayishimiye and the CNDD-FDD Secretary-General, Révérien Ndikuriyo, a veteran party strategist with deep roots in the movement. While Ndayishimiye seeks to consolidate his position for another term, Ndikuriyo is believed to be positioning himself as an alternative power broker, capable of rallying support from within the party’s traditional structures.
This divide became clearer on December 6, 2025, when a pro-presidential faction known as Bene Samurarwa convened a high-profile meeting in the former Cankuzo Province. The group formally endorsed Ndayishimiye as the party’s preferred candidate for 2027, signaling an organized effort to lock in his nomination early and neutralize internal opposition.
The gathering drew an impressive lineup of political and institutional figures, including Minister Marie-Chantal Nijimbere, CNDD-FDD Deputy Secretary-General Cyriaque Nshimirimana, members of parliament from the Buhumuza region, senior military officers, and leading business figures. Observers saw the attendance as a show of strength designed to demonstrate that key pillars of the state remain aligned with the president.
Notable Absences Fuel Speculation
Yet the meeting also highlighted the depth of internal divisions. Missing from the event were some of the party’s most powerful leaders, including Ndikuriyo himself, Senate President Gervais Ndirakobuca, and National Assembly Speaker Gélase Daniel Ndabirabe. Their absence was widely interpreted as a deliberate signal of dissent, reinforcing the belief that they oppose Ndayishimiye’s continued leadership and favor a different candidate for the next presidential race.
Political analysts in Bujumbura believe Ndikuriyo’s resignation from the Senate earlier in December was not a retreat but a tactical move. By stepping away from formal duties, he may be freeing himself to focus on building alliances and consolidating influence ahead of what could be a bruising internal contest.
Sources close to the party say Ndikuriyo has been quietly meeting with regional leaders, influential party elders, and security-linked figures, seeking to present himself as a stabilizing alternative at a time when dissatisfaction is growing among some party members.
Policy Discontent Adds Pressure
Criticism of President Ndayishimiye has also gained traction over policy decisions and economic conditions. Since 2022, Burundi’s economy has struggled with inflation, currency shortages, and declining purchasing power, issues that have eroded public confidence and increased frustration within party ranks.
Additionally, the president’s decision to deploy Burundian troops to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has drawn sharp scrutiny. Reports of setbacks against AFC/M23 forces have amplified concerns about the costs of the operation, both politically and militarily, and provided critics with ammunition to challenge his leadership.
A President Under Pressure
During the launch of his book Une Nation en Marche on January 14, 2026, President Ndayishimiye appeared to address the growing internal rift directly. Speaking at the Club du Lac Tanganyika Hotel, he warned that some individuals close to him were deliberately withholding honest advice, hoping that his failure would clear their path to power.
“If I fail, the nation fails with me,” he said, framing the internal struggle as not just a political contest but a test of national stability. The remarks were widely seen as an implicit rebuke of rivals within his own party and a call for unity amid deepening divisions.
At the same time, multiple sources report that the president is moving to limit Ndikuriyo’s influence, viewing him as the most serious threat to his grip on the party and the nomination process.
January 25: A Defining Moment
All eyes now turn to January 25, when CNDD-FDD delegates are set to gather for a General Assembly that could reshape the party’s leadership and even trigger changes within the national security apparatus. The meeting is also expected to lay the groundwork for selecting the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election—a decision that will likely determine Burundi’s political direction for years to come.
As the date approaches, the message is clear: the CNDD-FDD stands at a crossroads. Whether it emerges unified or fractured will not only decide its internal balance of power but could also redefine Burundi’s political future at a moment of mounting regional and economic uncertainty.
