Burundi's ruling party, the CNDD-FDD, has officially designated sitting President Évariste Ndayishimiye as its candidate for the presidential election scheduled for 2027. An expected decision that confirms the desire for continuity at the head of state in a political context largely dominated by the ruling party.

Gathered in extraordinary congress in Gitega this Sunday, CNDD-FDD officials ratified the head of state's candidacy, consolidating his position as the undisputed leader of the party. Since coming to power in 2020, following the death of Pierre Nkurunziza, Ndayishimiye has established himself as the central figure in Burundi's political system.

Elected in the first round in the 2020 election, he remains the favorite for the 2027 election, in a political landscape where the opposition struggles to assert itself. The Burundian Constitution allows the president to serve seven-year terms, renewable once. In this framework, Ndayishimiye's candidacy for a second term is fully in line with legality.

Since coming to power, the Burundian president has attempted to project a more open image than that of his predecessor. Certain measures, such as the release of journalists or signals sent to the international community, have been perceived as gestures of reconciliation.

However, these efforts remain tempered by persistent criticism from human rights organizations, which denounce ongoing restrictions on public freedoms and a limited political space for opponents.