Voters in Burundi are conducting polls against the backdrop of complaints about surge in inflation, lack of fuel and political oppression.
The seats of the National Assembly and the local council can hold hands, but the évariste ndayishimiye is safe in the role of president in the seven -year term ending in 2027.
Elections will test the popularity of the ruler of the CNDD-FDD Party, the former rebel group, which has exercised power for the past 20 years.
The East African state was already one of the poorest countries in the world, but residents have been under pressure as the prices of products such as food have recently soared.
The opposition party complained that supporters were bullied and intimidated by the members of the CNDD-FDD’s youth league.
Gabriel Banzawitonde, the leader of the APDR sugar, said: “ People are too intimidated and can’t wear a party color other than the manager. ‘
But he did not give up and said, “I promise to vote for you in the voting booth.”
Some political analysts approached by the BBC did not talk about the fear of being affected. Unless you want to name, an expert said: “I stay quiet to avoid unnecessary problems.”
“We pointed out that everything is being customized from the beginning.
Recently, some party officials have even suggested that the daily system can be beneficial to Burundi.
Burundi’s economic activities have been reduced due to chronic foreign currency shortages necessary for imports such as medicines and fuel.
Analysts say Burundi is now operating a foreign currency reserve of less than one month to import and the regional standard should be more than four months.
The car queue, which extends up to about 100m (330 feet) in the service station, has become a common sight. They last for several days or weeks, which are distributed by the authorities as the drivers wait for the fuel.
According to the World Bank, the average annual domestic income of Burundy in 2023 was the lowest in the East African community trade block.
Faustin NDikumana, an economist and anti -corruption activist, believes that Burundi’s situation will not soon improve.
`Good governance must be established. We are not there yet. ‘He told the BBC.
But the ruling party and the leader have the opposite view.
President NDAYISHIMIYE said that Burundi’s biggest city, BUJUMBURA residents, said, “It looked bad in 2005,” he said.
And CNDD -FDD often recalls criticism to the Burundyians so that the party can access the power for the hutu ethnic group, which constitutes the majority of the population for 40 years, which is considered oppressed by minority national investment.
