11 opposition parties in Burundi back President Ndayishimiye for the 2027 election

The opposition has rallied around the incumbent president

Eleven opposition parties in Burundi announced on Tuesday their support for incumbent President Évariste Ndayishimiye in the presidential election scheduled for May 3, 2027. The decision was made following a meeting in Bujumbura, the country's economic capital, Anadolu reports. In a joint statement, the parties, including FROLINA, KAZE-FDD and RADEBU, said they had agreed to join forces and run a joint campaign in support of the ruling party's candidate.

Motives and context

As reasons for their decision, the parties cited Ndayishimiye's achievements, particularly in fighting corruption, preserving national sovereignty, and ensuring the security of people and their property. They also «reaffirmed their commitment to the national vision and their determination to help build a rule-of-law state guaranteeing independence and justice for all», and pledged, in addition to political support, to contribute their expertise and mobilization efforts.

What is known about the candidates and the timeline

Ndayishimiye was nominated as the candidate of the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) back in April. Under a recent presidential decree, candidates must submit their documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission between November 13 and 22. Under the 2018 constitution, the president of Burundi is elected for a seven-year term and may hold office for no more than two consecutive terms. Ndayishimiye has led the country since 2020, following the death of his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza, who died while in office.