Burundi’s ruling party chooses presidential candidate

The CNDD-FDD, Burundi’s ruling political party, has chosen the candidate who will represent them during the presidential elections in May.

Maj Gen Evariste Ndayishimiye, who has served as the party’s secretary general since 2016, was the heavy favourite to replace President Pierre Nkuruziza, who after 14 years in power will step down.

Mr Ndayishimiye is seen as a safe candidate as he was not implicated in the atrocities that took place after President Nkuruziza controversially decided to run for a third term in office.

A survivor of the student massacres in 1995, Mr Ndayishimiye joined what was then the rebel CNDD group, and fought alongside Mr Nkuruziza.

When the CNDD formed a government following the Arusha peace accord in 2003, Mr Ndayishimiye, who was at the time a major general in the rebel army, was transferred to the national army’s high command.

After the disputed 2005 elections, Mr Ndayishimiye served as interior minister until 2007, when he became the president’s military advisor.

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