Évariste Ndayishimiye was born in the year 1968 in
Giheta, Burundi into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ndayishimiye. He is a fervent,
humble, and religious person. However, he also has his temperamental side that
boils easily. Évariste Ndayishimiye was a law student at the University of
Burundi when the 1995 Hutu student inter-ethnic violence escalated. The
violence during the Burundian Civil War lasted twelve years (1993 to 2005).
The 1993 Burundian Civil War was as a result of the
assassination of President Melchior Ndadaye. Évariste Ndayishimiye was attacked
as part of the ethnic Hutu students on campus—but he survived. He escaped
seeking asylum with the moderate rebel National Council for the Defense of
Democracy. Évariste Ndayishimiye is happily married to Angélique Ndayubaha and
has six children.
Political
Background
Évariste Ndayishimiye started his political career with
significant support from the Hutu ethnic group. He rose quickly up the ranks of
the group during the civil war. Subsequently, he presided over its militia and
military activities, where he got the nickname Neva.
During the period of war, Évariste Ndayishimiye worked
tightly with Mr. Nkurunziza. He was with him during the Arusha peace talks
between the government and FDD rebels. After a long series of agreements in
2003, the peace accord paved the way for the CNDD–FDD to enter national politics
as a political party. Évariste Ndayishimiye became deputy chief of staff of the
Burundian Army after the 2003 peace accord. In 2005, the CNDD–FDD came to power
under the leadership of Mr. Pierre Nkurunziza whose background was comparable
and had also fled the University of Burundi (UB) in 1995.
Évariste Ndayishimiye was named the Minister of the
Interior and Public Security from 2006 to 2007. Subsequently, he became the
personal military aide (chef de cabinet Militaire) to Nkurunziza. He held the
position till 2014. While in office, he returned to law school at Wisdom
University of Africa and even gained a degree in 2014. Évariste Ndayishimiye
also chaired the Burundi National Olympic Committee during this period.
Rise
to Power
After rising through opposition, President Nkurunziza
announced in 2018 that he would not be contesting the fourth term as president
in 2020. He then endorsed Évariste Ndayishimiye a close ally as the candidate
for his replacement. Évariste Ndayishimiye was chosen as a compromise between
Nkurunziza and other CNDD–FDD generals that wanted to ensure that a Civil War
veteran retained control.
He was said to be the most open and honest candidate in
the CNDD–FDD. Évariste Ndayishimiye won the May 2020 presidential election. He
won with 68 percent of the national vote. However, the fairness of the poll
remains questionable. Oppositions claim the election was rigged. Controversial
events during the polls seem to favor this line of thought.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nkurunziza died
unexpectedly on the 8th day of June 2020. Since Évariste Ndayishimiyehad
already won the elections, the Constitutional Court quickened his installation
as the president of Burundi. He was inaugurated at a ceremony in Gitega ten
days after Nkurunziza’s death and two months earlier than scheduled.
Presidency
Évariste Ndayishimiye pledged at the administrative
capital in Gitega that he will not fail the unity charter and the constitution.
He also pledged to uphold unity among Burundians, peace, and justice for all,
and fight against the ideology of genocide and discrimination. No foreign Head
of State was present at the inauguration ceremony due to COVID-19.
Évariste Ndayishimiye seven years term began on June 18,
2020. He announced his first cabinet ten days after his resumption to office.
He reduced the cabinet ministers from 21 to 15 and mainly chose ex-regime hardliners
to take up key positions.
Quick
Facts About General Evariste Ndayishimiye
·
His predecessor is Pierre Nkurunziza.
·
He is the 9th president of Burundi.
·
His Vice President is Prosper Bazombanza.
·
His Prime Minister is Alain-Guillaume
Bunyoni.
·
He is an activist.
·
Évariste Ndayishimiye was a military
general.
·
He is a degree holder (Law)
·
Evariste is a civil war veteran.
· He has a nickname (Neva).
Conclusion
The new president is taking over a country that is
diplomatically standing apart and on bad relations with donors. Burundi is
dealing with sanctions and the national psyche reels in political injustice.
The country features in United Nations Human Rights investigators in 2015 for
crimes against humanity. The document highlights extrajudicial executions,
arbitrary arrests, disappearances, torture, and sexual molestation.
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