The opposition coalition Burundi Bwa Bose has warned that the ongoing fuel shortage in the country threatens the normal conduct of the legislative elections scheduled for 5 June. In a statement issued on 3 April, its president Patrick Nkurunziza stated that candidates are significantly hindered in their movements, jeopardising grassroots campaigning and voter outreach.
Burundi, a landlocked country in East Africa with no oil resources, relies entirely on imports for its fuel consumption. This dependency has led to a worsening shortage in recent years, pushing petrol prices on the black market to levels five times higher than the official rate. The situation is having direct economic and political repercussions, particularly on electoral logistics.
Public management and internal economic pressure
In his statement, Patrick Nkurunziza also condemned an economic context marked by the depreciation of the Burundian franc and a surge in prices for essential goods, including fuel, food products and medicines. He attributed this deterioration to what he described as poor public governance and misguided economic decisions taken since the current administration came to power.
The coalition accused public authorities of embezzlement and corruption within the administration. These practices, it argued, are at the heart of the structural imbalances affecting the country and undermining the credibility of its institutions. The framework within which elections are expected to take place appears to be compromised by conflicts of interest between public officials and economic operators.
Political tensions and institutional climate
Burundi Bwa Bose emerged as the main opposition force following the exclusion of long-standing opposition leader Agathon Rwasa, deemed ineligible for the June elections. This decision has deepened political polarisation in a country where electoral competition remains heavily influenced by those in power and their control over institutional mechanisms.
Since 2020, President Evariste Ndayishimiye has sought to end the international isolation that characterised the regime of his predecessor, Pierre Nkurunziza. However, according to the latest Corruption Perceptions Index from Transparency International, Burundi remains one of the most affected countries, ranking 162nd out of 180 in 2024.
