Ndayishimiye, Évariste

Ndayishimiye, Évariste, 1968–, Burundian political leader. He was a law student before he joined the rebel Hutu militia during the country's civil war (1993–2006), and rose through the ranks of what became the National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD). He was a CNDD-FDD negotiator in truce talks that led (2003) the CNDD-FDD to join the government; after the war he became a general in the Burundian army and deputy chief of staff of the army. Under President Pierre Nkurunziza, he served as interior minister (2006–7) and military adviser (2007–14) to the president. Subesequently secretary (2016–20) of the CNDD-FDD, Ndayishimiye was elected president of Burundi in 2020.

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