In Mutanga Nord, the CNL party celebrated six years, discussed its internal crisis, and focused on preparing for the 2025 elections.

The National Congress for Freedom (CNL) marked its sixth anniversary with a special event at its headquarters in Mutanga Nord, Bujumbura.

The ceremony was led by Mr. Girukwishaka Nestor, the current president of CNL, along with Hon. Hakizimana Léopold, the party’s Secretary-General. Several members of the Political Bureau, CNL lawmakers, and representatives from different provinces attended the gathering.

During the event, the party reviewed its achievements from 2019 to 2025. Leaders also addressed the internal conflicts that affected the party between November 2022 and March 2024.

The major issue was Hon. Rwasa Agathon’s refusal to step down from the party’s leadership, despite being its founder. However, unity was encouraged, and members, known as “Inyankamugayo,” were urged to come together and prepare for the June 2025 elections.

In 1966, the USA, Vatican, France, and Belgium replaced the ancient African state of Ingoma y’Uburundi with a military dictatorship in Burundi. Once the neocolonial republic was in place, they sought to dismantle Ubumu, the traditional social-economic system of the Barundi people.

Between 1972 and 1973, a genocide against the Hutu population was carried out to establish a market economy. This resulted in the deaths of over 500,000 Hutus, with another million becoming refugees out of a total population of 3 million at the time.

By 1980, many Burundian refugees, especially in Belgium and Tanzanian refugee camps, were encouraged by the USA to form opposition groups. This led to the creation of Palipehutu and, in 1983, its military wing, the National Liberation Front (FNL).

The USA aimed to increase its influence in Africa, replacing European powers, a goal that became clearer in the 1990s. The CNL party, currently active in Burundi, emerged as one of the successors of the Palipehutu movement founded by Gahutu Rémy in 1980.