Latest news with #AgathonRwasa
France 24
05-06-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Congolese refugees in Burundi: Families separated by chaos of war
Africa 05:55 Burundi goes to the polls this Thursday to elect MPs and local councillors. But the election has already been heavily criticised, with many candidates disqualified by the electoral commission – including longtime opposition figure Agathon Rwasa. Burundi is also affected by the conflict in neighbouring DR Congo. More than 71,000 Congolese nationals have fled the fighting between the Congolese army and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels since January. Many have crossed into Burundi, making this the largest refugee influx the country has seen in decades. The chaos of war has torn families apart, as our regional correspondent reports. Most of these Congolese refugees are women and children, who face not only the trauma of fleeing, but also the heartbreak of separation. FRANCE 24 followed several families from the border to a UNHCR site on the other side of the country. At the end of their journey, some of the refugees are reunited with loved ones already in Burundi. Others have no news of their families. All of them must now learn to live with the uncertainty of their future return to DR Congo.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Burundi votes in election with opposition sidelined
Representative AI image Voters in Burundi went to the polls to vote for a new parliament on Thursday, with the outcome almost predetermined after the main opposition was effectively blocked from competing. The ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party, led by President Evariste Ndayishimiye, faces little electoral threat after a series of moves neutralized its primary rival, the National Freedom Council (CNL). What do we know about the Burundi election? The CNL, which placed second in the 2020 election amid alleged widespread fraud, was suspended in 2023 by the Interior Ministry over alleged "irregularities" in how it held meetings. Later that year, while party leader Agathon Rwasa was abroad, the CNL ousted him in a move widely seen as orchestrated by the government. He was replaced by Nestor Girukwishaka — a former minister and executive at a state-owned company with close ties to the ruling party — prompting accusations of a government-backed internal coup. Rwasa and his allies have since been barred from joining other opposition groups or standing as independents, effectively shutting them out of Thursday's vote. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo One Burundian political analyst, speaking anonymously to the AFP news agency because of security fears, told the CNDD-FDD was leaving nothing to chance amid "a very deep socio-economic crisis." Burundi, a former German colony, faces poverty and economic crisis The country, already one of the poorest in the world, is grappling with widespread shortages, soaring inflation—reportedly exceeding 40% monthly—and rising public anger. Burundi, a former German colony, has a long history of ethnic conflict, civil war, and authoritarian rule. Thursday's vote, observers say, will likely reinforce the ruling party's grip on power as it faces mounting internal pressure over economic mismanagement and political repression.
Bloomberg
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Burundi Holds Legislative Vote, Excludes Main Opposition Leader
Burundi is holding elections for the National Assembly and local councils that have excluded the main opposition in one of the world's poorest nations. Agathon Rwasa, whose faction was blocked from participating, has claimed the vote won't be fair because the electoral commission is not independent. He's also alleged that voters and opposition politicians have been the victims of intimidation by the youth league of the ruling party, which has been in power for two decades.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Burundi votes but with opposition neutered
Representative Image (AI-generated) Elections for a new parliament in Burundi got under way on Thursday but with little risk of an upset after the main opposition was effectively barred from running. The impoverished, landlocked country in east Africa has seen decades of ethnic violence, civil war and authoritarian rule. A former rebel group, the National Council for the Defence of Democracy - Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) of President Evariste Ndayishimiye, has dominated Burundian politics since 2005. It is accused of undermining its main opponent, the National Freedom Council (CNL), which came second at the last election in 2020 and claimed it was cheated. In 2023, the interior ministry suspended the CNL over "irregularities" in the way it organised its meetings. Then last year, the CNL ousted its leader, former militia commander Agathon Rwasa, while he was abroad -- a move which he said was orchestrated by the government. The government then passed new rules effectively barring Rwasa and his allies from joining other parties or standing as independents. A Burundian analyst, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the ruling party was taking no chances because the elections were happening amid "a very deep socio-economic crisis". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 임플란트, 비용 걱정되셨다면? 인천 시민을 위한 알짜 정보 플란치과 더 알아보기 Undo Burundi faces "all sorts of shortages, galloping inflation of more than 40 per cent and growing popular discontent," the analyst said. Very difficult for us: President Ndayishimiye took over following the death of his predecessor, Pierre Nkurunziza, who had isolated the country with his brutal and chaotic rule since 2005. While Ndayishimiye was seen as relatively less authoritarian, Burundi's rights record remains poor, with journalists, activists and opposition figures all facing severe repression. One of the candidates for Thursday's election, Patrick Nkurunziza -- no relation to the previous president -- head of the Burundi for All coalition, told AFP the campaign had been "very difficult for us". He said his members faced "threats, harassment and sometimes even attacks" from a government-aligned youth league known as the Imbonerakure. A group of media executives last month accused the Imbonerakure of detaining and torturing a journalist while he tried to work at the University of Burundi in the capital Bujumbura. A fuel shortage that has largely paralysed the country for nearly three years also made it difficult for candidates to operate, said Nkurunziza. "In the absence of Agathon Rwasa's CNL, the CNDD-FDD is sure to win," said the analyst. Most of the other candidates are "token candidates, who are there just to show that democracy is still happening in Burundi," they added. Burundi experienced decades of ethnic violence and civil war up to 2005. Under a peace agreement signed in 2000, seats in the parliament are split 60-40 between the two ethnic groups, Hutu and Tutsi. Burundi remains one of the world's poorest countries with almost two-thirds living below the World Bank's poverty line of $2.15 per day.
DW
05-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Burundi votes in election with opposition sidelined – DW – 06/05/2025
Burundi is heading to the polls in a tightly controlled vote expected to favor the ruling party. The opposition has been blocked as the country faces deepening economic crisis. Voters in Burundi went to the polls to vote for a new parliament on Thursday, with the outcome almost predetermined after the main opposition was effectively blocked from competing. The ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party, led by President Evariste Ndayishimiye, faces little electoral threat after a series of moves neutralized its primary rival, the National Freedom Council (CNL). What do we know about the Burundi election? The CNL, which placed second in the 2020 election amid alleged widespread fraud, was suspended in 2023 by the Interior Ministry over alleged "irregularities" in how it held meetings. Later that year, while party leader Agathon Rwasa was abroad, the CNL ousted him in a move widely seen as orchestrated by the government. He was replaced by Nestor Girukwishaka — a former minister and executive at a state-owned company with close ties to the ruling party — prompting accusations of a government-backed internal coup. Rwasa and his allies have since been barred from joining other opposition groups or standing as independents, effectively shutting them out of Thursday's vote. One Burundian political analyst, speaking anonymouslyto the AFP news agency because of security fears, told the CNDD-FDD was leaving nothing to chance amid "a very deep socio-economic crisis." Burundi: Students boost food security with AI To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Burundi, a former German colony, faces poverty and economic crisis The country, already one of the poorest in the world, is grappling with widespread shortages, soaring inflation—reportedly exceeding 40% monthly—and rising public anger. Burundi, a former German colony, has a long history of ethnic conflict, civil war, and authoritarian rule. Thursday's vote, observers say, will likely reinforce the ruling party's grip on power as it faces mounting internal pressure over economic mismanagement and political repression. Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher
