Évariste Ndayishimiye

Évariste Ndayishimiye, the tenth President of Burundi, was born in 1968 at Musama, Kabanga Zone in Giheta, Gitega Province in Burundi. He is reported to be a 'fervent' Catholic.

In 1995, during the Burundian Civil War, Évariste Ndayishimiye joined the rebel National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD–FDD) and rose up the ranks of its militia.

A series of agreements in 2003 paved the way for the CNDD–FDD, the rebel group Évariste Ndayishimiye was part of, to enter national politics as a political party.

President Pierre Nkurunziza, who endorsed Évariste Ndayishimiye as his successor, died unexpectedly on 8 June 2020.

Évariste Ndayishimiye became the tenth President of Burundi on 18 June 2020 after winning the 2020 elections with a large majority. He succeeded President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Évariste Ndayishimiye announced his first cabinet on 28 June 2020, reducing the number of cabinet ministers from 21 to 15 and nominating ex-regime hardliners to key positions.

Shortly after taking office, Évariste Ndayishimiye called the COVID-19 virus the nation's 'worst enemy' and closed national borders in January 2021.

In December 2022, Évariste Ndayishimiye attended the United States–Africa Leaders Summit 2022 in Washington, D.C. hosted by US President Joe Biden.

In July 2023, Évariste Ndayishimiye attended the 2023 Russia–Africa Summit in Saint Petersburg and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In December 2023, Évariste Ndayishimiye made a controversial statement regarding Western countries pushing for LGBT rights, stating that homosexuals should be stoned en masse.