Burundi : CENI extends voter registration card collection by one day

SOS Médias Burundi
Bujumbura, May 14, 2025 — The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of Burundi announced on Wednesday an exceptional extension of the collection of voter registration cards throughout the country. Initially scheduled to end on Wednesday, May 14, the process will continue until Thursday, May 15, 2025.
According to François Bizimana, spokesperson for the CENI, this decision was motivated by irregularities observed in several distribution centers, as well as by the low turnout in certain localities. Some citizens were unable to collect their cards on time, including police and military personnel deployed to secure the electoral process, as well as Burundian soldiers engaged in peacekeeping missions abroad.
« Those still serving will be able to collect their cards from their superiors. Burundians in the diaspora are invited to go to embassies and consulates to obtain them, » the spokesperson specified.
The CENI also reassures that voters who are absent or unable to attend will be able to collect their cards at a later date at district offices.
This extension aims to ensure maximum participation in the legislative and district elections scheduled for the coming weeks. However, this process has not escaped controversy.
A withdrawal campaign under pressure
During the first phase of voter registration at the beginning of the year, many Burundians were forced to register to obtain their receipt. In several districts, access to markets, healthcare facilities, and even police services was conditional on proof of registration.
Imbonerakure, young people affiliated with the CNDD-FDD, were deployed to various strategic points to check citizens’ documents. These practices, widely denounced by the civil society and the opposition, illustrate a persistent climate of coercion surrounding the electoral process.
What does the law say?
The Burundian electoral law requires that the withdrawal of voter cards be voluntary, without intimidation or coercion. According to Article 60 of the Electoral Code, any pressure exerted on citizens to participate in the electoral process constitutes an offense. The use of threats, exclusion from services, or extrajudicial controls by groups affiliated with political parties is strictly prohibited. However, no sanctions have been observed to date against violators.
As the country enters a decisive phase of the electoral calendar, this measure is perceived by some as a sign of authorities’ nervousness in the face of growing public disengagement, in a political context largely dominated by the ruling party.
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Voters check their names at a voter card collection center in Cibitoke province, May 14, 2025 (SOS Médias Burundi)