The ruling party seeks to tighten a grip on power

Voters in Burundi are heading to the polls in the background of increased inflation, fuel shortage and political repression complaints.

The seats in the National Assembly and the local councils are ready to seize, but évariste Ndyishimiye is safe in his role as a president because he spends a seven -year period ending in 2027.

The elections will test the popularity of the ruling CND-FDD, a previous rebel group that has been in power over the past twenty years.

East Africa has already was one of the poorest countries in the world, but the population there had been subjected to additional pressure by a modern increase in the price of goods such as food.

The opposition parties complained that their supporters were harassed and intimidated by the members of the Candd-FDD, Imbonrakure.

“People feel so fear that they are telling you that they cannot wear any partisan colors other than the colors of the ruling,” said Gabriel Banzawond, the leader of APDR.

But he said they did not give up and “once in the voting booth, they promise to vote with you.”

Many political analysts who dealt with them by BBC refused to talk about the elections for fear of repercussions. “To avoid unnecessary troubles, it remains calm.”

“We have indicated from the beginning that everything was specially designed (to suit the ruling party),” they said, indicating that winning CND-FDD was an ended deal.

Recently, some party officials have even suggested that the one -party system may be beneficial to Burundi.

The chronic shortage of foreign currency, which is required for imports such as medicine and fuel, has led to a decrease in Burundi’s economic activity.

Analysts say Burundi is now less than one month of foreign currency reserves for imports, while the regional standard is at least four months.

The parking lists of car stations for about 100 meters (330 feet) have become a common scene. It often lasts for several days or weeks while drivers waiting for fuel, which is being seized by the authorities.

According to the World Bank, in 2023, the World Bank of the World Bank was $ 1923 (142 pounds), which is the lowest level in the community trade bloc in East Africa.

Faustin Ndikumana, an economic expert and anti -corruption activist, believes that Burundi’s situation will not improve any time soon.

“The rational judgment must be created. We are not there yet,” he said to the BBC.

But the ruling party and its leader hold an opposition point of view.

President Ndyishimiye said that the population of Bogombura, the largest city in Burundi, “seemed bad in 2005” but now “they have money to buy new shoes and clothes and build a house.”

CND -FDD often responds to criticism by the Pornand’s reminder that the party is fighting for the Ethnic Huto Group – who make up the majority of the population – to reach power, four decades after what they considered by the minority tutsi.