Rivalries between Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye and Reverien Ndikuriyo, the ruling party CNDD-FDD’s Secretary General, played out publicly in Uganda. During the swearing-in ceremony of the President-elect in Uganda, Burundi sent two competing delegations causing protocol havoc.
Initially, the Burundian regime had delegated its ruling party Secretary General in a bid to strengthen ties in Uganda. However, President Evariste Ndayishimiye panicked fearful that his bitter rival might use the foreign trip to outshine him, suddenly decided to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Ndayishimiye jetted in and immediately jetted out, he was not confident for a longer stay given his failing unpopular rule.
The rivalry between Ndayishimiye and Ndikuriyo stems from irreconcilable fundamental difference; Ndayishimiye wants to rule through his family (his wife and children) while Ndikuriyo wants a single party regime control by a handful of powerful ‘Generals’. In Burundi, typically, every grand event organized by Ndayishimiye is usually followed by a competing event organized by Ndikuriyo. Last year, Ndikuriyo suddenly fell seriously ill; he had been poisoned in a well-orchestrated plot to eliminate him.
The intense rivalry culminated with Ndayishimiye forcing his party to nominate him, also a year early, for a second term in office. However, he still fears Ndikuriyo might not sign his nomination papers in 2027.
Meanwhile, Burundi, under the CNDD-FDD regime, continues to sink deeper into absolute poverty and misery. Most observers expect more tensions within the ruling party, some even warning of a probable violent collapse of the regime. “Burundi is already a failed state”, one warned, “While Ndikuriyo and Ndayishimiye play their petty games; a revolt, a mutiny or even a coup d’etat, might occur from unexpected sources”.
ellenkampire