Burundi’s ruling CNDD-FDD party has described President Évariste Ndayishimiye’s 2040–2060 strategic vision as a “cultural revolution” essential to the nation’s socio-political and economic rebirth, with strong emphasis on reclaiming traditional identity and dismantling colonial legacies.
Speaking during a retreat held on July 7 for newly elected CNDD-FDD deputies in Gitega, party Secretary General Révérien Ndikuriyo underscored the deputies’ mandate to meet the expectations of the Burundian people.
“You were chosen by the people, who expect you to improve their living conditions,” he said.
The retreat was framed as preparation for the deputies’ term in the National Assembly (2025–2030), focusing on building a strong, united Burundi grounded in its historical and cultural foundations.
President Ndayishimiye’s long-term plan draws heavily from Burundi’s pre-colonial statehood, known as Ingoma y’Uburundi—a sacred political order governed by a diarchy between the Mwami (King) and the symbolic Karyenda drum.
This legacy, which was interrupted by colonisation from 1878 to 1962 and a subsequent military coup in 1966, is now being revived through what the CNDD-FDD calls a “parallel state” model.
Central to this vision is the reestablishment of the miryango (family clans) and their chiefs, the Bataka, alongside republican institutions. The party aims to see Parliament operate in cooperation with these traditional structures, guided by a renewed constitutional contract between all miryango.
On the economic front, the CNDD-FDD advocates a return to Ubumu, a traditional communal system rooted in mutual aid and socio-economic solidarity.
While the market economy would remain for international trade, domestic policy would prioritize communal development strategies over Western neoliberal models.
“This vision,” party leaders stated, “is our moment to reclaim identity and reassert sovereignty within a multipolar world.”
Ndayishimiye’s roadmap is also tightly linked to pan-African objectives, particularly the revival of the African Standby Force (ASF), a concept once backed by Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi.
The president has called for greater defense cooperation among African states, positioning Burundi as a key contributor to regional security alongside the Sahel Alliance and other states.
With deep historical references and a call for cultural revival, the CNDD-FDD sees the 2040–2060 vision not merely as a policy blueprint, but as a generational movement aimed at redefining Burundian governance, economy, and global position.
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