On 23 July, Burundi held senatorial elections in which the ruling CNDD-FDD (Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie–Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie) secured all 13 seats in the upper house. According to the National Electoral Commission, ten senators—one Hutu and one Tutsi from each of five provinces—were indirectly elected by district councillors, and three Batwa senators were included to ensure representation of the indigenous minority group. Six women were elected, representing 46 per cent of the chamber—slightly higher than the 41 per cent in the previous Senate—and meeting the constitutional requirement that at least 30 per cent of seats be held by women. The elections followed a 2023 territorial reform that reduced the number of provinces from 18 to 5, shrinking the Senate from 39 to 13 seats. Unlike in the previous chamber, which included three opposition senators, CNDD-FDD now holds all seats, effectively eliminating opposition representation. While CENI described the vote as transparent, observers highlighted the lack of political pluralism.

Sources: SOS Médias Burundi, The East African, Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante -Burundi, IPU Parline

Burundi held legislative elections on 5 June, with the ruling CNDD-FDD (Conseil National Pour la Défense de la Démocratie–Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie) party winning all 100 directly elected seats in the National Assembly. According to the National Electoral Commission, the CNDD-FDD secured 96.5 per cent of the vote and was the only party to surpass the 2.0 per cent threshold required for representation. The opposition party UPRONA (Union pour le Progrès national) received 1.4 per cent of the vote, while the main opposition party, CNL (Congrès national pour la liberté), was barred from contesting the elections. The vote saw the election of 39 women (39.0 per cent of the total 100 seats), up from 35 (35.0 per cent) in 2020, and voter turnout was reported at 98.9 per cent. The African Union praised the election as peaceful, however, other observers, including the Catholic Church, reported serious irregularities such as ballot stuffing and forced voting. Final results were confirmed by the Constitutional Council on 20 June. The new legislature comprises 111 members, including 11 co-opted seats to ensure ethnic and gender representation, in line with the Arusha Accords.

Sources: Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante – Burundi, IPU Parline, British Broadcasting Corporation, Jeune Afrique, International IDEA

Repression against opposition parties and journalists intensified ahead of the 5 June legislative and local elections, with security forces and suspected members of the ruling CNDD-FDD (Conseil National Pour la Défense de la Démocratie–Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie) party’s youth wing reportedly escalating attacks. The crackdown, which began in late April and worsened in May, included arrests, abductions, and violent assaults. A journalist was kidnapped and beaten on 28 April, and in early May, two opposition activists were seriously injured or detained. Journalists also reported threats and obstruction at roadblocks. Although the election campaign was launched on 9 May, leading opposition figures boycotted it, citing ruling party dominance. Since 13 May, parties have reported intimidation, blocked rallies, and destruction of voter cards. On 3 June, the interior minister acknowledged youth wing involvement and said most perpetrators had been arrested.

Sources: SOS Médias Burundi, International Crisis Group, Reporters Without Borders, X

In March, the United Nations (UN) reported that at least 70,000 people fleeing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo had crossed into Burundi since the start of the year, marking the country’s largest refugee influx in decades. The majority of new arrivals are women, children, and the elderly. Many are living in overcrowded transit camps, schools, churches, and stadiums, with some sleeping in open fields. The UN described conditions in the camps as ‘extremely dire.’ The crisis is worsening food insecurity across Burundi, where over 70 per cent of the population already struggles to meet basic needs and nearly 56 per cent of children under five suffer from stunting (impaired growth due to malnutrition), further complicating humanitarian support efforts. The World Food Programme is providing hot meals to new arrivals but cut rations for existing refugees in March–from 75 per cent to 50 per cent of the full food entitlement–due to limited resources.

Sources: News Central, United Nations, The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Food Programme, Associated Press, Reuters