Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye has signed a decree calling on voters to participate in the country’s presidential election scheduled for May 3, 2027.
Under the decree, presidential candidates are required to submit their applications to the Independent National Electoral Commission between November 13 and November 22, 2026.
The decree further provides for a presidential run-off election on June 1, 2027, if no candidate secures at least 50 per cent of the votes in the first round.
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Six political parties, including the ruling National Council for the Defence of Democracy–Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), have already nominated candidates for the 2027 presidential race. The ruling party has nominated incumbent President Ndayishimiye.
Burundi’s 2018 Constitution provides for a seven-year presidential term and limits a president to a maximum of two consecutive terms.
Meanwhile, a partial voter registration exercise was conducted across the country from October 26 to October 28, targeting eligible citizens who had not registered for the 2025 elections.
Burundi held legislative, senatorial, district and village elections in 2025, during which the ruling CNDD-FDD party secured a landslide victory.
The May 2027 presidential election is expected to be a major political event as the country prepares to choose its next head of state.