Adolphe Nshimirimana

Adolphe Nshimirimana (died August 2, 2015) was a Burundian military general who served as army chief of staff, as well as a senior presidential adviser for internal security and close political ally of President Pierre Nkurunziza.^[1] Observers viewed Lt. Gen. Nshimirimana as Nkurunziza's de facto internal security chief.^[2]

In 2015, President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his intention to seek a third term, leading to widespread opposition and unrest.^[1] Nshimirimana helped to defeat the attempted coup d'état against Nkurunziza in May 2015 and was seen as the mastermind behind the crackdown on opposition protesters.^[1][2] Human Rights Watch accused Nshimirimana of becoming "one of the key hard-liners around the president."^[1] Nshimirimana's influence increased as the unrest and street protests against Nkurunziza continued in mid-2015.^[1] According to Carina Tertsakian of Human Rights Watch, "Despite or perhaps because of his brutal reputation, Adolphe was generally seen as untouchable, with no one in a position of power daring, or even suggesting, holding him to account."^[1]

Nshimirimana was killed in a rocket attack on his car in Bujumbura at midday on August 2, 2015.^[2]

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