Burundian Citizen Challenges President Ndayishimiye Over ‘Powerful Elites’

GITEGA, Burundi - December 27, 2025 - A Burundian citizen has publicly questioned President Évariste Ndayishimiye, urging him to confront what he has repeatedly described as “powerful elites” undermining Burundi’s economy, or to seek help from the population if he is unable to do so.

The citizen, Twagirayezu Désiré-Apollinaire, made the remarks on December 26, 2025, during a public interaction between the president, residents and journalists at Muramvya Stadium in Gitega Province.

President Ndayishimiye has, since 2022, frequently stated that he faces threats from influential individuals whom he accuses of sabotaging the country’s governance and economy. He previously claimed that certain figures sought to overthrow him, allegations that later appeared to refer to former Prime Minister Gen. Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni, who was arrested and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.

As Burundi’s economy has deteriorated in recent years-marked by fuel shortages, scarcity of foreign currency and rising prices-Ndayishimiye has accused unnamed powerful figures of hoarding fuel, hiding foreign exchange in private homes, illegally exporting coffee, tea and precious minerals, and selling them abroad for personal gain.

In October 2025, Gabriel Rufyiri, president of the anti-corruption watchdog OLUCOME, revealed that Burundi exported minerals worth 26 billion Burundian francs last year, yet no revenue was deposited into the state treasury.

“If you go to the international market, in Dubai or elsewhere, you find tons of gold, coltan, cassiterite and wolframite,” Rufyiri said. “The question is: where does the money go?”

Addressing the president directly, Twagirayezu cited several public statements in which Ndayishimiye complained about the influence of these elites, including remarks made during a city-cleanliness campaign, a visit to the Office of the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR), and meetings with officials overseeing the precious stones sector.

“You said, ‘Those big men in Jeeps are what we are fighting against,’” Twagirayezu recalled. “At the OBR, you said, ‘All the people I appointed are looters.’ In Kayanza, you named traders and said, ‘These are thieves who export precious stones illegally.’”

Twagirayezu reminded the president that he was elected by the people and vested with the authority of Head of State, arguing that no individual should be more powerful than him.

“We elected one president-you,” he said. “If these people are too powerful for you, then tell us who they are and ask the people to help you.”

In response, President Ndayishimiye said that Burundi is a democracy, and that he cannot govern through arbitrary force as monarchs once did.

“We are not in a monarchy,” he said. “The country does not belong to the Head of State. The president must follow the law.”

On the issue of mineral theft, Ndayishimiye acknowledged that some individuals involved are known but said it remains difficult to determine the exact quantities being smuggled. He cited Rainbow Burundi, a company he said officially exports up to 2,000 tons of minerals.

The president urged citizens to expose other suspected offenders, saying this would allow authorities to take legal action against them.