Burundi’s president seeks to suppress opposition

Significance Those excluded include Agathon Rwasa, the country’s main opposition leader, who lost control of his own political party under controversial circumstances last year. The Constitutional Court has upheld the CENI’s decision, leaving Rwasa and his disciples with no clear path to contest the polls. Impacts The economic crisis will persist, as will the government’s inability to handle it. The government may increase its military deployments to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to tackle armed opposition groups. Tensions with Rwanda may flare, amid a risk of military clashes in DRC and recent inflammatory comments by CNDD-FDD’s secretary-general.