Status and dynamics of the political situation in Burundi

The report examines the deteriorating political climate in Burundi as it approaches the 2015 elections. It highlights the ruling CNDD-FDD party's efforts to restrict political space, its attempts to amend the constitution to allow President Pierre Nkurunziza a third term, and the role of the Imbonerakure youth wing in intimidating opponents. While the army is viewed as stable, the report warns that the Imbonerakure and a restrictive legal environment pose significant risks to stability.

• The ruling CNDD-FDD party has attempted to amend the constitution to enable President Pierre Nkurunziza to run for a third term, which would violate the current constitution and the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement's limit of two presidential terms.
• The CNDD-FDD has systematically restricted political space through restrictive legislation, including a 2012 law that penalises opposition leaders for 'lies or slander', a 2011 law prohibiting non-electoral coalitions, and a 2013 law allowing authorities to forbid public meetings to maintain 'public order'.
• The Imbonerakure, the CNDD-FDD youth wing, is identified as a major security threat due to its documented intimidation of the opposition in rural areas and reports of them being armed and trained by the ruling party.
• The Burundian army is considered a stable force unlikely to intervene in the political crisis, largely due to its ethnic integration and the financial incentives provided by international peacekeeping missions in Somalia, Mali, and the Central African Republic.
• Tensions between the CNDD-FDD and its former coalition partner, UPRONA, have escalated over the unilateral establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) without a Criminal Tribunal, and a 2013 review of the National Land Commission (CNTB) which some argue has a pro-Hutu bias.
• The adoption of a new, consensual electoral code on 25 April 2014 is noted as the only positive recent political development, as it resulted from consultations between all political parties.

APA

Bouka, Y. (2014). Status and dynamics of the political situation in Burundi. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Central-Africa-Report-Issue1-Burundi.pdf

Chicago

Bouka, Yolande. Status and dynamics of the political situation in Burundi. Institute for Security Studies, 2014. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Central-Africa-Report-Issue1-Burundi.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bouka |first1=Yolande |title=Status and dynamics of the political situation in Burundi |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=July 2014 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Central-Africa-Report-Issue1-Burundi.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bouka2014status, author = {Bouka, Yolande}, title = {{Status and dynamics of the political situation in Burundi}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2014}, month = jul, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Central-Africa-Report-Issue1-Burundi.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }