Burundi: Imbonerakure Mobilize for 2027 Election, Emphasizing Vigilance

Buhumuza, September 30, 2026 — As the 2027 presidential election approaches, leaders of the CNDD-FDD youth league, the Imbonerakure, are increasing rallies and calls for mobilization in several districts of Buhumuza province, in the east and northeast of Burundi. Young people are particularly called upon to strengthen their commitment, to remain “vigilant” in their living environments and to participate in securing their communities. In Ruyigi, Cankuzo and Muyinga, leaders of the ruling party insist on the need for young people to remain mobilized and attentive to what is happening in their neighborhoods and in their villages. These activities particularly intensified in September, during the parliamentary recess period. Calls for increased mobilization In Butihinda, MP Shabani Nimubona called on young people to mobilize more and “show the difference”. In Butaganzwa, the same speech was accompanied by a call to “conjugate the verb”, an expression used to encourage activists to take more action. In Ruyigi, Ferdinand Bandiyimisi, provincial head of the CNDD-FDD youth league in Buhumuza, particularly criticized the low participation of certain young people in party activities. He called some of them “lazy” and accused them of spending their time in bars drinking local beer rather than participating in political activities. Officials also insist on vigilance in the neighborhoods and in the villages. Young people are encouraged to report situations deemed worrying and to remain attentive to their environment. Some calls also mention the need to “watch out for each other.” These instructions raise questions about the limits of the role of a youth organization affiliated with a political party in questions related to security, while maintaining order is officially the responsibility of the competent institutions. Imbonerakure already associated with security activities The Burundian authorities have recognized for several years the participation of the Imbonerakure in certain security-related activities. The senior authorities, starting with President Évariste Ndayishimiye and the leaders of the CNDD-FDD, a former Hutu rebellion which became the ruling party in 2005 as part of the process resulting from the Arusha Accord signed in August 2000, present in particular the young people of the party as participating in securing the borders alongside the army as well as in nightly rounds in the neighborhoods and in the villages alongside the police. However, the authorities reject accusations of involvement of the Imbonerakure in human rights violations and highlight their contribution to peace, security and development. Human rights organizations and international reports have, for their part, documented over the years cases of the involvement of members of the Imbonerakure in arrests, acts of intimidation, violence and other abuses. These organizations particularly contest the security role assumed by certain young people in the party outside official state structures. Kigarika, a training center The question of the involvement of young people affiliated with the ruling party in security issues comes as their presence in paramilitary training structures has become more visible. On September 3, Évariste Ndayishimiye went to Kigarika, in the district of Ruyigi, in the province of Buhumuza, where 231 members of the first promotion of the Reserve and Development Support Force (FRAD) received their berets after three months of training. The former public seed multiplication center in Kigarika is now used as a training center. The lessons taught include combat techniques. Ndayishimiye wants to transform the Imbonerakure into “commandos” The current mobilization comes a few weeks after a declaration by President Évariste Ndayishimiye which relaunched the debate on the security role of the Imbonerakure. On August 29, during the 10th edition of Imbonerakure Day organized at the Ingoma stadium in Gitega, the political capital of Burundi, the head