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The newly formed government in Burundi took the oath of office on Wednesday, following a disputed legislative election that saw the ruling CNDD-FDD party secure every seat in the National Assembly—extending its two-decade hold on power.
In the June polls, the CNDD-FDD claimed 96% of the vote and all 100 parliamentary seats. The outcome has sparked criticism from human rights groups, the Catholic Church, and opposition parties, who all raised concerns about serious irregularities during the electoral process.
Late Tuesday, President Évariste Ndayishimiye appointed 10 new ministers—each a member of his CNDD-FDD party—to form part of a 13-member cabinet. The appointees were officially sworn in the next day in a ceremony held in the capital, Bujumbura.
“President Ndayishimiye, who accused his government of being made up of lazy individuals responsible for the crisis Burundi is facing, was able to appoint the men of his choice,” a CNDD-FDD official said, suggesting the President was seeking a more loyal and efficient team.
Among the key appointments is Léonidas Ndaruzaniye, a former police general and close ally of Ndayishimiye, who has been named Minister of the Interior.
In a historic move, Chantal Nijimbere, the former Minister of Commerce, was appointed as Burundi’s first female Minister of Defence. However, her appointment has not been without controversy. A Tutsi general, who requested anonymity, criticised the decision, arguing it violated long-standing ethnic agreements.
“Since the chief of general staff is Hutu, the ministry of defence should have gone to a Tutsi officer, but the CNDD-FDD has not respected this agreement… and only appoints Tutsi civilians it controls,” the general told AFP.
Burundi’s post-conflict constitution requires ethnic balance in government: 60 percent of cabinet posts must go to the Hutu majority, who make up around 85 percent of the population, and 40 percent to the Tutsi minority, who constitute roughly 14 percent.
President Ndayishimiye came to power in 2020 following the sudden death of Pierre Nkurunziza, who ruled Burundi for 15 years with an authoritarian grip. While Ndayishimiye initially signalled openness and reform, his presidency has since oscillated between cautious liberalisation and continued repression, with rights organisations and the United Nations documenting ongoing abuses.
As the new cabinet assumes office, questions remain about Burundi’s political direction—whether the new appointments mark a genuine attempt to confront the country’s challenges, or simply a consolidation of power behind a single party line.
