The ruling party seeks to strengthen power of power

Burundi voters are heading for the ballot box against the background of increasing inflation, a shortage of fuel and complaints of political repression.

The seats in the National Assembly and the local councils are ready to grab, but the Evarist Ndayishimiye is safe in his role as president as he is serving a seven -year term, which ends in 2027.

The election will test the popularity of the ruling CNDD-FDD, a former rebel group that has been in power over the last 20 years.

The East African nation was already one of the most, the most in the world, but the residents there were subjected to additional pressure from a recent jump in the price of goods as food.

Opposition parties complain that their supporters were harassed and intimidated by members of the CNDD-FDD Youth League, The Imbonerakure.

Gabriel Banzavitond, the leader of the APDR party, said, “People are so intimidated that they tell you that they cannot wear any party colors other than the ruling ones.”

But he said they did not succumb to “once in the vote, they promise to vote for you.”

Several political analysts have turned from the BBC, refusing to talk about the election of fear of consequences. An expert who did not want to be baptized said, “To avoid unnecessary problems, you are silent.”

” From the beginning, we pointed out that everything was adapted (to meet the ruling party), “they said, suggesting that a CNDD-FDD victory was done.

Recently, some party officials even suggest that the one -party system may be beneficial for Burundi.

The chronic shortage of a foreign currency, which is required for imports such as medicine and fuel, has led to a decline in Burundi’s economic activity.

Analysts say that Burundi is now working less than a month on a foreign reserves for imports, while the regional standard should be at least four months.

The queues of cars extending from service stations for about 100 m (330 feet) have become a common view. They often last for days or weeks, while motorists are waiting for fuel, which is indicated by the authorities.

According to the World Bank, the annual internal income of Middle Burundian in 2023 was $ 193 (142 pounds), the largest in the trade block of the East African community.

Faustin Dndikuman, an economist and an activist to combat corruption, believes that Burundi’s situation will not improve soon.

” Good governance must be established. We are not there yet, “he told the BBC.

But the ruling party and its leader have the opposite opinion.

President Ndayishimiye said the residents of Bujumbura, the largest city of Burundi, “looked bad in 2005”, but now “there was money to buy shoes, new clothes and to build a house.”

And CNDD -FDD often responds to criticism, reminiscent of the Burundians that the party is fighting for the Hutu ethnic group – which make up the bigger part of the population – to access power, after four decades of what they consider to be depression by minority tuts.