Burundians went to the polls to elect a new parliament in a vote the ruling party is almost certain to win after the main opposition National Freedom Council (CNL) was blocked from competing.
The CNL, which came second in the 2020 election, amid allegations of widespread fraud, was suspended in 2023 by the Interior Ministry over alleged “irregularities” in how it held meetings.
The vote, observers say, will likely reinforce the ruling party’s grip on power as it faces mounting internal pressure over economic mismanagement and political repression.
