List of presidents of Burundi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of Burundi |
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![]() Coat of arms of Burundi
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Term length | 7 years, limited to two terms. |
Inaugural holder | Michel Micombero |
Formation | 28 November 1966 |
Deputy | Vice-President of Burundi |
Website | Official Website: http://www.presidence.gov.bi/ |
The president of Burundi is the main leader of the country of Burundi. This person is both the head of state (the symbolic leader) and the head of government (the one who runs the country day-to-day). The president also leads Burundi's army.
The job of president started on November 28, 1966. This was when Michel Micombero announced that Burundi was a republic. The first rules for the president's job were written in the 1974 constitution. This constitution made Michel Micombero the first president. Today, the president's powers come from the newest constitution. This constitution was put in place in 2005 after the Burundian Civil War.
Contents
What the President Does
The president's main job is to show that Burundi is a united country. They also make sure that all laws are made and followed correctly. The president has many important powers.
Appointing Key People
The president chooses many important officials. These include military leaders, ambassadors to other countries, and judges. They also appoint judges for the highest courts, like the Supreme Court. The president also picks the governors for each area of the country.
Making and Changing Laws
The president can organize the government and call for special meetings of the parliament. They also help create new laws and can suggest changes to existing ones. If parliament passes a law, the president can agree to it or stop it from becoming a law.
Term Length and Limits
A president serves for seven years. They can be president for a maximum of two terms. After their last term, the president receives a pension. This is like a retirement payment.
Burundi's Presidents: A Look Back
Since Burundi became a republic, nine different people have served as president. Only one president, Pierre Buyoya, held the job more than once, but not in a row. Sylvie Kinigi was the first and only woman to be president, but only for a short time. The current president is Évariste Ndayishimiye. He has been in office since June 18, 2020.
List of Leaders
Here is a list of the people who have served as president of Burundi.
- Political parties
Union for National Progress (UPRONA) Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU) National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD–FDD)
- Status
Denotes acting president
- Symbols
Died in office
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Elected | Time in office | Ethnic group | Political party | Prime minister(s) | ||||
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Started job | Left job | Total time | |||||||||
1 | ![]() |
Michel Micombero (1940–1983) |
— | 28 November 1966 | 1 November 1976 (Removed from power) |
9 years, 339 days | Tutsi | Union for National Progress / Military |
Nyamoya | ||
2 | ![]() |
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza (1946–2016) |
1984 | 1 November 1976 | 3 September 1987 (Removed from power) |
10 years, 306 days | Tutsi | Union for National Progress / Military |
Nzambimana | ||
3 | ![]() |
Pierre Buyoya (1949–2020) |
— | 3 September 1987 | 10 July 1993 | 5 years, 310 days | Tutsi | Union for National Progress / Military |
Sibomana | ||
4 | ![]() |
Melchior Ndadaye (1953–1993) |
1993 | 10 July 1993 | 21 October 1993 (Died unexpectedly) |
103 days | Hutu | Front for Democracy in Burundi | Kinigi | ||
— | ![]() |
François Ngeze (born 1953) |
— | 21 October 1993 | 27 October 1993 | 6 days | Hutu | Union for National Progress / Military |
— | ||
— | ![]() |
Sylvie Kinigi (born 1953) |
— | 27 October 1993 | 5 February 1994 | 101 days | Tutsi | Union for National Progress | Herself | ||
5 | ![]() |
Cyprien Ntaryamira (1955–1994) |
1994 | 5 February 1994 | 6 April 1994 (Died unexpectedly) |
60 days | Hutu | Front for Democracy in Burundi | Kinigi Kanyenkiko |
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6 | ![]() |
Sylvestre Ntibantunganya (born 1956) |
— | 6 April 1994 | 1 October 1994 | 2 years, 110 days | Hutu | Front for Democracy in Burundi | Kanyenkiko Nduwayo |
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1994 | 1 October 1994 | 25 July 1996 (Removed from power) |
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(3) | ![]() |
Pierre Buyoya (1949–2020) |
— | 25 July 1996 | 11 June 1998 | 6 years, 279 days | Tutsi | Union for National Progress | Ndimira | ||
11 June 1998 | 30 April 2003 | Position abolished | |||||||||
7 | ![]() |
Domitien Ndayizeye (born 1951) |
— | 30 April 2003 | 26 August 2005 | 2 years, 118 days | Hutu | Front for Democracy in Burundi | |||
8 | ![]() |
Pierre Nkurunziza (1964–2020) |
2005 2010 2015 |
26 August 2005 | 8 June 2020 | 14 years, 287 days | Hutu | National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy | |||
9 | ![]() |
Évariste Ndayishimiye (born 1968) |
2020 | 18 June 2020 | Incumbent | 5 years, 6 days | Hutu | National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy | Bunyoni Ndirakobuca |
Timeline of Presidents
This timeline shows when each president served.

See also
- Politics of Burundi
- List of kings of Burundi
- Vice President of Burundi
- Prime Minister of Burundi
- List of colonial governors of Ruanda-Urundi
- List of colonial residents of Burundi