Vice-President of Burundi

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The position of Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi was created in June 1998, when a transitional constitution went into effect. It replaced the post of Prime Minister.

Interim Period (1998-2001)

Pierre Buyoya, a former president (1987-1993) who seized power in a 1996 military coup, was sworn in as President of the Republic on 11 June 1998. He appointed Frédéric Bamvuginyumvira, a Hutu member of the Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU), as 1st vice-president. Mathias Sinamenye, a Tutsi member of Buyoya's Union for National Progress (UPRONA) party, was appointed 2nd vice-president.

According to the transitional constitution, the vice-presidency consisted of two posts: The 1st vice-president (Responsible for political and administrative affairs) and the 2nd vice-president (Responsible for economic and social affairs).

Transitional Period (2001-2005)

A new transitional power-sharing government took office on 1 November 2001. Interim president Pierre Buyoya became transitional president for a period of 18 months. At the end of his term in 2003, Hutu Vice-President Domitien Ndayizeye took office and appointed a Tutsi (Alphonse-Marie Kadege) as vice-president. In November 2004, Kadege was sacked as vice-president and replaced by Frédéric Ngenzebuhoro. Although Ndayizeye's term was due to end in late 2004 following elections, the transitional period was extended and planned elections were delayed. Elections were held in mid-2005 and the transitional period is due to end on 26 August 2005, when the newly elected president takes office.

Vice-Presidency in the New Constitution

Burundi's new constitution, approved in a 28 February 2005 constitutional referendum, calls for a two member vice-presidency (similar to that of the interim period). The 1st vice-president will be responsible for political and administrative affairs, while the 2nd vice-president will handle social and economic affairs. One vice-president will be an ethnic Hutu and the other a Tutsi. Nominees must be approved by both chambers of parliament in order to take office.

On 29 August 2005, President Pierre Nkurunziza nominated Martin Nduwimana and Alice Nzomukunda for the posts of 1st and 2nd vice-president. Both received approval from parliament and were immediately sworn in. Nzomukunda resigned on 5 September 2006.[1] She was replaced by Marina Barampama two days later.

In February 2007, Barampama was replaced by Gabriel Ntisezerana. In November 2007, Nduwimana was replaced by Yves Sahinguvu.

List of Vice-Presidents of Burundi

Tenure Incumbent Political Affiliation Ethnic Affiliation
11 June 1998 to 1 November 2001Frédéric Bamvuginyumvira, 1st Vice-PresidentFRODEBUHutu
Mathias Sinamenye, 2nd Vice-PresidentUPRONATutsi
1 November 2001 to 30 April 2003Domitien Ndayizeye, Vice-PresidentFRODEBUHutu
30 April 2003 to 11 November 2004Alphonse-Marie Kadege, Vice-PresidentUPRONATutsi
11 November 2004 to 29 August 2005Frédéric Ngenzebuhoro, Vice-PresidentUPRONATutsi
29 August 2005 to 7 November 2007Martin Nduwimana, 1st Vice-PresidentUPRONATutsi
29 August 2005 to 7 September 2006Alice Nzomukunda, 2nd Vice-PresidentCNDD-FDDHutu
7 September 2006 to 8 February 2007Marina Barampama, 2nd Vice-PresidentCNDD-FDDHutu
8 February 2007 to August 2010Gabriel Ntisezerana, 2nd Vice-PresidentCNDD-FDDHutu
8 November 2007 to August 2010Yves Sahinguvu, 1st Vice-PresidentUPRONATutsi
28 August 2010 to present Terence Sinunguruza, 1st Vice-PresidentUPRONATutsi
28 August 2010 to presentGervais Rufyikiri, 2nd Vice-PresidentCNDD-FDDHutu

See also

References

  1. "Burundi VP steps down over graft", BBC, 5 September 2006.

External links