BUJUMBURA, March 7th (ABP) – On Saturday 1 March 2025, the National Congress for Freedom (CNL) party celebrated the sixth anniversary of its existence at its national headquarters in the Mutanga Nord district of Bujumbura Mayorship. The ceremonies were attended by party representatives at national, provincial and communal level.
In his welcome address, Valère Nshimirimana, the CNL party representative in the extended province of Bujumbura, said that the Inyankamugayo (CNL party activists) were cohabiting well with activists from other approved political parties in Burundi. With regard to the forthcoming elections, Nshimirimana pointed out that the CNL party would be elected in 10 of the 11 communes in the extended province of Bujumbura.
For his part, the secretary general of the CNL party, the honourable Léopold Hakizimana, pointed out that the party’s achievements over the 6 years from its approval on 14 February 2019 to the present day include the setting up of governing bodies and the opening of party offices throughout the country.
He pointed out that the CNL party was celebrating its sixth anniversary at a time when it was doing extremely well, following a period of disagreement within the party. “From November 2022 to 10 March 2024, the CNL party was characterised by conflicts between the party leaders due to the incompetence of the party president during that period, in collaboration with his small group,” he said.
Having realised that the party was in danger of disappearing, he continued, CNL party representatives, advocating respect for the law, organised an extraordinary congress on 10 March 2024 in the town of Ngozi, which was attended by 1,400 Inyankamugayo members.
Taking the floor, CNL party leader Nestor Girukwishaka reviewed the various achievements made over the last 6 years, adding that the party now has new leaders at both national and foreign levels. In democratic countries,” he continued, “it is the people who choose their leaders through the ballot box, hence the establishment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), whose main role is to organise elections.
He took the opportunity to inform all Inyankamugayo that the CNL party is officially launching the fund-raising campaign, so that preparations for the electoral campaign and the elections themselves can be crowned with success. To that end, Girukwishaka has taken the lead by contributing 1 million Burundi francs.
He ended his speech by encouraging the party’s militants to forgive one another and to remain calm, in order to build a Burundi for all, one that is flourishing, developed and stands out in the concert of nations.