As Burundi steadily approaches the key 2027 presidential elections, a growing chorus of voices from various sources is issuing urgent messages against the proliferation of hate speech, advocating instead for a dedicated focus on programmatic debate. This initiative shows a collective desire to steer the nation's political discourse towards constructive engagement. Political leaders and civil society members alike are actively promoting messages of peace and reconciliation, emphasizing their critical importance in the lead-up to what is anticipated to be a significant electoral period. The emerging calls from these influential figures and organizations highlight the imperative of fostering constructive discourse over divisive rhetoric, aiming to build a more harmonious political environment. The article notes that hate speech not only fosters negative outcomes but, more profoundly, engenders evil, often proving characteristic of individuals or groups who demonstrably lack a genuine societal project or substantive policy proposals to offer the populace.
Calls to End Hate Speech
Révérien Ndikuriyo, the influential Secretary General of the ruling CNDD-FDD party, recently took a firm stance, requesting all militants within his party to unequivocally ban hate speech during a press conference. Ndikuriyo articulated that the deliberate choice of discourse based on respect for others significantly contributed to his party's commendable results in the 2025 legislative elections. He showed the critical importance of maintaining respectful communication and interaction within the party's ranks, noting with conviction, "Lorsque les membres du parti cessent de qualifier ou de stigmatiser ceux qui ne partagent pas leurs opinions, cela renforce l’amour que les citoyens portent à notre parti." This statement reflects a strategic understanding of how internal party conduct influences public perception and loyalty.
Thérence Manirambona, spokesperson for the CNL opposition party, echoed these sentiments, stating unequivocally that a political party is fundamentally created to govern all citizens without distinction, irrespective of their background or affiliations. Manirambona issued a stark warning that hate speech messages are akin to a "bad virus" that possesses the dangerous potential to incite militants to acts of violence. He showed the gravity of such rhetoric, asserting that "L’appel à la haine ou à la discrimination discrédite un parti politique." The CNL spokesperson also suggested a profound lack of substantive policy within such rhetoric, stating pointedly, "celui qui utilise un langage de haine dans sa propagande n’a généralement pas de véritable projet de société à présenter à la population." Manirambona further cautioned that "Les messages de haine sont un mauvais virus. Les diffuser peut pousser certains militants à poser des actes de violence contre les membres d’autres partis politiques. Les leaders doivent mesurer le poids de leurs paroles." His remarks show the heavy responsibility leaders bear for the language they employ and the messages they disseminate.
Historical Context of Confrontation
Faustin Ndikumana, national director of Parcem, offered a critical perspective, stating that the prevalence of verbal violence during electoral campaigns reflects a deep-seated crisis in Burundi's political culture. Ndikumana attributed this widespread issue to the conspicuous lack of genuine societal projects being advocated for and defended within the political class. "Le problème de la violence verbale pendant les campagnes électorales tient au fait qu’au sein de la classe politique, il n’y a pas réellement de défense de projets de société," he said, noting a fundamental flaw in the political engagement. He further elaborated that politics is frequently, and problematically, viewed as merely a means for personal economic survival or as a pathway to access privileges. "Dans ces conditions, l’adversaire politique n’est plus perçu comme un concurrent démocratique, mais comme un ennemi qu’il faut combattre," Ndikumana explained, illustrating how this perception distorts the very essence of democratic competition.
Ndikumana cited the tragic violence that erupted between Frodebu and Uprona militants in 1993, as well as more recent tensions observed between CNDD-FDD and CNL partisans, as poignant examples of the heavy toll exacted by Burundi's entrenched confrontation culture. He warned that when political leaders deliberately present their opponents as enemies, their militants eventually adopt this same dangerous view, consequently considering each other as sworn adversaries. "Lorsque les responsables politiques présentent leurs adversaires comme des ennemis, leurs militants finissent eux aussi par se considérer comme des ennemis jurés," he added, outlining the dangerous ripple effect of such leadership. Ndikumana passionately called upon citizens not to remain captive to the mentality of certain political actors, urging them instead to exercise independent judgment. He implored them to evaluate political leaders based on their demonstrated ability to offer concrete solutions to national problems, rather than on divisive ethnic, clanic, or partisan affiliations. "Les citoyens ne doivent pas rester prisonniers de la mentalité de certains acteurs politiques. Ils doivent évaluer les responsables politiques à l’aune de leur capacité à proposer des solutions concrètes aux problèmes du pays, et non sur la base d’affinités ethniques, claniques ou partisanes," Ndikumana stated, advocating for a more mature and issue-focused electorate.
Societal Project vs. Empty Rhetoric
Jean Bigirimana, a respected Burundian political analyst, strongly emphasized that political parties must prioritize presenting clear, well-defined societal projects to the electorate, rather than succumbing to the temptation of resorting to divisive rhetoric. Bigirimana stated that the current political landscape in Burundi often suffers from a noticeable absence of substantive debate on critical national issues, with parties frequently focusing on personality attacks or appeals based on narrow group identities. He noted that a genuine political project should meticulously outline concrete solutions for the myriad socio-economic challenges confronting the population, thereby offering tangible hope and direction.
Bigirimana noted that the widespread absence of such programmatic discourse contributes significantly to a vacuum that is, regrettably, often filled by hate speech or by the exploitation of ethnic and regional divisions. He argued compellingly that when parties fail to articulate a coherent vision for the country's future, they inadvertently encourage a focus on differences rather than emphasizing shared national goals and aspirations. This, according to Bigirimana, severely hinders the development of a mature political culture, one that should ideally be centered on policy, public welfare, and collective progress. He urged political actors to fundamentally shift their campaign strategies towards offering tangible proposals that directly address pressing issues such as poverty, unemployment, and ensuring access to essential services. Bigirimana concluded that this approach would not only elevate the overall quality of political debate but also foster national unity and stability by presenting common objectives and a shared future for all citizens of Burundi.
