Burundi - July 2025
Ruling party CNDD-FDD secures all seats in Senate election
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
