Some citizens and members of different political parties continue to criticize Burundi for the fact that registering to participate in the election that will be held on June 5, 2025 has been made mandatory, and should be a personal choice.
So far in Burundi, a little more than 1.7 million people have registered to vote for deputies and municipal councilors. It is an event that started on October 22, 2024. Until now, all over the country, people who have not registered would face various problems including the lack of some government services.
One of the residents said that when you go to apply for services in the municipality, do not show the paper that shows that you have registered to participate in the elections, which you cannot receive.
This one also took some seeds and manure for that reason and planted them.
In an interview with the media, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission in Burundi, Ceni, Ntarwamiye Prosper, said that nothing unusual had happened, stressing that it is within the government's power to see that it is necessary for the people to participate in certain activities and establish measures to encourage them.
He said, "Every administration has a way of encouraging its citizens to participate in a certain activity, so if the government sees that there are measures that are considered to be in the interest of the country, it will definitely take them."
Last week when the President of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye, was leaving registration, he also emphasized that registration is mandatory.
He said, "Some people think that voting is a choice, but it is not because it is a law because if you refuse to vote, you show that you do not live in that country and its affairs do not concern you."
However, this has been widely criticized by some political groups in this country, which compares it to the threat that is being made to the people, and insists that no one should be denied any service because of non-registration.
