Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye has described Abel Nduwimana’s decision to run for president in the 2027 elections as a positive sign of democracy, drawing attention to the former priest’s political ambitions and background.
In a post written in #Kirundi and published on his official X account, #Ndayishimiye said he had spoken with Nduwimana, who intends to contest the country’s highest office in the upcoming elections.
“I had the pleasure of speaking with Father Abel Nduwimana, who has decided to run for the Presidential seat in the upcoming 2027 elections. This is a good sign of democracy in #Burundi,” the president wrote.
However, clarification about Nduwimana’s religious status has emerged. Contacted by Andika Magazine, Abbé Dieudonné Niyibizi, Director of CEDICOM (Centre Diocésain de Communication), confirmed that Nduwimana previously served as a priest in the Catholic Diocese of #Bujumbura but has officially left the Catholic Church through a process known as laicization, which formally releases an individual from the clerical state.
He is therefore no longer a Catholic priest, according to Niyibizi.
Andika Magazine also attempted to contact Nduwimana to obtain his comments and clarification regarding his presidential ambitions and his departure from the Catholic Church. However, he could not be reached, as he did not answer our calls. The publication will continue its efforts to contact him and provide an opportunity for him to respond.
#Nduwimana‘s presidential ambitions come as #Burundi approaches its 2027 elections. However, details about his formal candidacy and electoral preparations remain unclear.
The president’s public acknowledgment of Nduwimana‘s decision comes as Burundi’s political landscape begins to take shape ahead of the 2027 elections. The submission period for presidential candidates runs until November 22, 2026, giving other prospective contenders an opportunity to formally submit their applications before the deadline.
Could Abel Nduwimana’s entry into the 2027 presidential race bring a new dimension to Burundi‘s political landscape?
What do you think about a former Catholic priest seeking the country’s highest office?
