Burundi’s Parliament Approve New Election Commission

Burundi’s National Assembly approved the composition of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni) by a large majority, with opposition party Conseil national pour la liberté (CNL) boycotting the vote.

The new president of the seven-member Ceni will be current government spokesman Prosper Ntahorwamiye. The Electoral Commission was validated by the Senate by a large majority. The next legislative elections in Burundi are scheduled for 2025.

Despite the international community’s welcome of the country’s opening-up since Evariste Ndayishimiye came to power in June 2020, a UN Commission of Inquiry stated in September 2021 that the human rights situation in Burundi remained “disastrous”.

Burundi is the world’s poorest country in terms of GDP per capita.