List of presidents of Burundi

President of Burundi
Abakuru W'igihugu ca Uburundi (Kirundi)
Président du Burundi (French)
Rais wa Jamhuri ya Burundi (Swahili)
Burundi's Coat of arms
Coat of arms of Burundi
Evariste Ndayishimiye
since 18 June 2020
Term length7 years,[1] limited to two terms.[2]
Inaugural holderMichel Micombero
Formation28 November 1966
DeputyVice-President of Burundi
WebsiteOfficial Website
Politics of Burundi
Constitution
Government
Parliament
Judiciary
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations
United Nations in Burundi
flag Burundi portal

The President of Burundi is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Burundi. The president is also commander-in-chief of the National Defence Force. The office of the presidency was established when Michel Micombero declared Burundi a republic on 28 November 1966.[3] The first constitution to specify the powers and duties of the president was the constitution of 1974, which was adopted in 1976.[4] Written by Micombero, the constitution affirmed his position as the first president of Burundi.[2] The powers of the president derive from the latest constitution, implemented in 2005 as a result of the 2000 Arusha Accords after the Burundian Civil War.[4]

The president's stated role is to represent Burundi's national unity and ensure that the laws and functions of the state are created and executed with full compliance of the constitution. The president has the power to appoint military commanders, ambassadors, magistrates and provincial governors. The president also appoints all judges, including those of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. The president can organize government and can call for parliamentary sessions under extraordinary circumstances. In addition to promulgating legislation, the president has the power to propose and amend laws, and can veto laws passed by the parliament. A presidential term is seven years,[1] and presidents can serve a maximum of two terms.[5][a] The president is entitled to a pension after the end of their final term of office.[2]

Nine people have served in the office since Burundi became a republic. Only one president, Pierre Buyoya, has served on two non-consecutive occasions.[7] Sylvie Kinigi was the first and only woman who has served in the role (on an interim basis).[8] The current president, Évariste Ndayishimiye, has been serving in the role since 18 June 2020.

  1. ^ a b Moore, Jina (18 May 2018). "Burundi Voters Back Constitution Extending Presidential Term". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Burundi's Constitution of 2005" (PDF). Comparative Constitutions Project. 2005. pp. 17, 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Michel Micombero, 43, dies; Former president of Burundi". The New York Times. UPI. 18 July 1983. Section B., p. 5. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b Manirakiza, Pacifique. "The 2005 Constitution of Burundi" (PDF). University of Ottawa. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  5. ^ Vandeginste, Stef (2016). "Legal Loopholes and the Politics of Executive Term Limits: Insights from Burundi". Africa Spectrum. 51 (2): 39–63. doi:10.1177/000203971605100203. hdl:10067/1355460151162165141. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Burundi court 'forced' to validate leader's third term". Al Jazeera Media Network. 14 May 2015. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Biographie de Pierre Buyoya" [Biography of Pierre Buyoya]. Le Monde (in French). 18 April 2001. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Meet the women who became presidents in Africa". Africa Feeds Media Limited. 20 March 2021. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2024. Kinigi ... served as Prime Minister of Burundi... She also served as acting President ... the first and to date only woman to hold these positions in Burundi.


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