Opposition rift emerges in Burundi as CNL ousts leader

Burundi’s main opposition party, the National Freedom Council (CNL), faced internal turmoil on Sunday as a faction successfully ousted its leader, Agathon Rwasa. The move, declared during a general assembly in the northern part of the country, has left the party divided.

Rwasa, a 60-year-old former militia leader, was removed from his position and swiftly replaced by Nestor Girukwishakae, a senior executive at a state-owned company.

This development adds a new layer to the already complex political landscape in Burundi, as the CNL was suspended by the government last year, citing alleged “irregularities.”

Critics argue that the suspension of CNL was a strategic move by the government to quash dissent in the lead-up to the 2025 legislative elections, potentially plunging the nation back into political turmoil. The party’s secretary general, Simon Bizimungu, condemned Rwasa’s removal, citing a violation of the party’s statutes and accusing the interior minister, Martin Niteretse, of favoring a dissident group.

Bizimungu alleged that the interior minister denied Rwasa the opportunity to convene his own general assembly on March 2 but granted authorization to a small dissident group of 10 individuals, accusing them of orchestrating the removal.

A senior CNL official emphasized that the dissidents must seek approval from the interior ministry for the decisions made during Sunday’s meeting. Bizimungu asserted that this maneuver was an attempt to sideline Rwasa from the upcoming legislative elections in May 2025, highlighting the perceived political threat he poses.

Local media reported a heavy police presence during Sunday’s meeting, underscoring the heightened tensions within the opposition. Rwasa, who secured the second position in the 2020 elections, contested the results, claiming they were flawed. President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who succeeded the late Pierre Nkurunziza, has garnered international recognition for steering Burundi away from isolation, yet challenges persist, including a concerning human rights record in the impoverished nation of 12 million people.