Ruling party will look inwards ahead of Burundi polls

Subject

Political dynamics ahead of 2020 elections.

Significance

The government has launched talks with CNARED, a forum of opposition parties, to negotiate the return of its exiled leaders ahead of the 2020 presidential elections. President Pierre Nkurunziza, who has said he will not run for a fourth term, appears to be cautiously reaching out to the opposition in an effort to ease his regime’s diplomatic isolation and deepening economic crisis.

Impacts

• The 2020 elections will likely see continued heavy human rights violations and restrictions on the political space.
• CNARED’s mooted return might increase tensions, rights violations and repression, especially once they try to campaign outside Bujumbura.
• Burundi’s crisis weighs heavily on regional security, especially in Congo’s South Kivu Province; the elections might exacerbate this.