Burundi

Shabani Nonda

Soccer

Shabani Christophe Nonda is a retired DR Congolese international footballer who played as a striker. He earned 36 caps and scored 20 goals for the DR Congo, and was selected for their squad for the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.

Mohammed Tchité

Soccer

Mohammed 'Meme' Tchité is a Belgian-Burundian footballer who plays for Club Brugge K.V. in the Belgian First Division, as a striker.

Gaël Bigirimana

Soccer Midfielder

Gaël Bigirimana is a footballer who plays for Newcastle United as a midfielder.

Pierre Nkurunziza

Politician

Pierre Nkurunziza is a Burundian politician who has been President of Burundi since 2005. He was the Chairman of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy, the ruling party until he was elected the President of the Republic of Burundi.

Khadja Nin

Musical Artist

Khadja Nin is a Burundian singer and musician.

Nyamko Sabuni

Politician

Nyamko Ana Sabuni is a Swedish politician who served as Minister for Gender Equality in the Swedish government from 2006 to 2013. A member of the Liberal People's Party, Sabuni was elected a Member of Parliament in 2002 and assumed the office of Minister for Gender Equality on 6 October 2006. From 2006 to 2010 she also served as Minister for Integration.

Saido Berahino

Soccer

Saido Berahino is a professional footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion as a striker. Born in Burundi, he has played for England up to under-21 level.

Saidi Ntibazonkiza

Soccer Midfielder

Saidi Ntibazonkiza is a Burundian footballer, who plays for Polish Ekstraklasa club Cracovia and the Burundian national team.

Pierre Buyoya

Politician

Major Pierre Buyoya is a Burundian politician who has ruled Burundi twice, from 1987 to 1993 and from 1996 to 2003. With 13 years combined as Head of State, Buyoya is up to now the longest serving Burundian President. In September 1987, Buyoya led a military coup d'état against the Second Republic of Burundi, led by Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, and installed himself as the first president of the Third Republic. He proclaimed an agenda of liberalization and patching relations between Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, but presided over an oppressive ruling junta consisting primarily of Tutsi. This led to a Hutu uprising in August 1988, which caused approximately 20,000 deaths. After these killings, Buyoya appointed a commission to find a way to mediate the violence. This commission created a new constitution that Buyoya approved in 1992. This constitution called for a nonethnic government with a president and a parliament. Democratic elections were held in June 1993 and were won by the Hutu Melchior Ndadaye who created a balanced Hutu and Tutsi government. Nevertheless, the army assassinated Ndadaye in October 1993 and Burundi returned to civil war. Nearly 150,000 people were killed as the war raged. There were numerous attempts at government, but even the coalition government under Sylvestre Ntibantunganya was unable to stop the fighting.

Melchior Ndadaye

Politician

Melchior Ndadaye was a Burundian intellectual and politician. He was the first democratically elected and first Hutu president of Burundi after winning the landmark 1993 election. Though he moved to attempt to smooth the country's bitter ethnic divide, his reforms antagonised soldiers in the Tutsi-dominated army, and he was assassinated amidst a failed military coup in October 1993, after only three months in office. His assassination sparked an array of brutal tit-for-tat massacres between the Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups, and ultimately sparked the decade-long Burundi Civil War.

Francine Niyonsaba

Olympic Track and field Athlete

Francine Niyonsaba is a Burundian track and field athlete, specializing in the 800 metres. She is the National record holder in the event, improving her own record to 1:58.67 on August 9, 2012 in the semi-final round of the Women's 800m event at the 2012 Summer Olympics. It was a .01 improvement on her previous record. Two days later she finished seventh in the Olympic final. Less than a month later she took the record down yet again to 1:56.59. She had a quick rise to prominence in 2012 while still a teenager. The first time she set the record was in late June 2012 while narrowly winning the 2012 African Championships in Athletics in 1:59.11 in what was only her third competitive race. At that, she improved upon her own previous national record of 2:02.13, set in the qualifying round. In the opening round race, the inexperienced runner had opened up a 30 metres lead on the pack. Three weeks later on July 20, 2012, she improved the record again to 1:58.68 while finishing second at the 2012 Diamond League meeting at Herculis.

Vénuste Niyongabo

Olympic athlete

Vénuste Niyongabo is a middle distance runner from Burundi. In 1996, he became the first Olympic medalist from Burundi by winning the 5000 metres at the 1996 Summer Olympics. He had only competed twice before in that event prior to winning the gold medal. A Tutsi born in Vugizo, in southern Burundi, Niyongabo won a silver medal in the 1500 m at the 1992 World Junior Championships and also came fourth over 800 metres. He competed in his first senior tournament the following year, but was eliminated in the 1500 m semi-finals of the World Championships in Stuttgart. Niyongabo soon became one of the top 1500 m runners in the world, winning several major races in 1994 and 1995. He also won a bronze medal at the World Championships in Gothenburg, finishing behind Noureddine Morceli and Hicham El Guerrouj. For the 1996 Olympics, held in Atlanta, Niyongabo was assumed to be a potential winner of the 1500 m, but he decided to forfeit his place to a compatriot, Dieudonné Kwizera. Kwizera had been unable to compete in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics since Burundi did not have a National Olympic Committee at the time, and was only in Atlanta as a coach. Niyongabo moved up to compete in the 5000 m event instead. The move turned out to be a good one for both athletes; Kwizera finally became an Olympian, while Niyongabo sprinted away in the last lap of the 5000 m final to win an unexpected gold medal.

Faty Papy

Soccer Midfielder

Faty Papy is a Burundian professional association football player who currently plays for Bidvest Wits in the South African Premier Soccer League. He also plays with the Burundi national football team.

Cyprien Ntaryamira

Politician

Cyprien Ntaryamira, was President of Burundi from 5 February 1994 until his death when his plane was shot down on 6 April 1994.

Michel Micombero

Politician

Michel Micombero was the first President of Burundi from November 28, 1966 to November 1, 1976. He was born in Rutovu, Bururi Province as a member of the Tutsi ethnicity. In the years after independence, Burundi had seen a rapid descent into anarchy. The king Mwambutsa IV rapidly changed the Prime Minister as anti-Tutsi forces threatened to unleash the same violence as had hit Rwanda. On October 18, 1965, Hutu leader Gervais Nyangoma launched a coup, ousting the king. Soon afterward the largely Hutu police force, under the control of Antoine Serkwavu, began to massacre Tutsis in some parts of the country. Michel Micombero was a young Tutsi army captain who had graduated from the Royal Military Academy of Belgium in 1962. In 1965, he had only recently become Minister of Defense. He rallied the army, and its largely Tutsi officers, against the coup and overthrew them. This was followed by numerous attacks on Hutus throughout the nation. Micombero became Prime Minister on July 11, 1966 and was the real power in the nation technically ruled by King Ntare V, who deposed his father with the help of Micombero. On November 28, 1966, Micombero overthrew the monarchy and made himself president. He also promoted himself to lieutenant general.

Prince Louis Rwagasore

Politician

Prince Louis Rwagasore is Burundi's national and independence hero. He was a Burundi nationalist and prime minister.

Jeannette Kagame

Woman

Jeannette Nyiramongi Kagame is the wife of Paul Kagame;. She became the First Lady of Rwanda when her husband took office as President in 2000. The couple have four children - Ivan Kagame, Ange Kagame, Ian and Brian. Mrs. Jeannnette Kagame is the Founder and Chairperson of Imbuto Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to support the development of a healthy, educated and prosperous society. Jeannette Kagame returned to her native Rwanda following the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. She has since become devoted to uplifting the lives of vulnerable population in Rwanda, particularly those of widows, orphans and impoverished families. Mrs. Kagame hosted the first African First Ladies’ Summit on Children and HIV/AIDS Prevention in May 2001 in Kigali, Rwanda. The summit lead to the founding of the PACFA. an initiative primarily focused on providing a holistic approach to HIV prevention and care for the whole family. Kagame later co-founded the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS in 2002. She served as OAFLA's president from 2004 unil 2006. OAFLA works to champion initiates related to economic empowerment, health and education throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. During her mandate as President of OAFLA, she along with her fellow African First Ladies initiated a continental campaign known as “Treat Every Child as Your Own”. This campaign received the John Thompson “Legacy of a Dream” Award.

Jean-Baptiste Bagaza

Politician

Colonel Jean-Baptiste Bagaza is a Burundian politician who was Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Council in Burundi until November 10, 1976, and President from November 10, 1976 to September 3, 1987. While travelling abroad, Bagaza was deposed in a military coup d'état. He was replaced as president by Pierre Buyoya, and went into exile in Uganda and later went to Libya. where he lived until 1993. Since 1994, he has led the Party for National Recovery. He is a Senator for life as a former head of state.

Diane Nukuri

Olympic athlete

Diane Nukuri-Johnson is a Burundian professional distance runner. She competed for Burundi in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney in the 5,000m and in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London in the marathon. Nukuri-Johnson ran for The University of Iowa in college.

Valery Nahayo

Soccer Defender

Valery Twite Nahayo is a Burundian international footballer who plays professionally for Belgian team Gent, as a defender.

Dugary Ndabashinze

Soccer Midfielder

Dugary Ndabashinze is a Burundian football midfielder.

Jimmy Gatete

Soccer Forward

Jimmy Gatete is a Burundian-Rwandan footballer, who is currently playing for Police FC Kibungo.

Domitien Ndayizeye

Politician

Domitien Ndayizeye is a Burundian politician who was President of Burundi from 2003 to 2005. Of Hutu descent, he succeeded Pierre Buyoya—a Tutsi—as national president on April 30, 2003, after serving as Buyoya's vice-president for 18 months. Ndayizeye remained in office until replaced by Pierre Nkurunziza on August 26, 2005. Under his government, Ndayizeye tried to bridge the gap between the Hutu and the minority Tutsi people of Burundi through cooperation with other presidents in the region such as Museveni of Uganda and Mkapa of Tanzania. The attack on Congolese Tutsi refugees at the border of Burundi was considered a test of the president's capacity to maintain law and order and stability in the country. He promised swift retaliation and that the culprits would be apprehended. In 2004, Ndayizeye proposed a draft constitution to the parliament prior to it being put to the electorate in referendum later in the year. Relations with the Tutsi group were strained, reflected in their boycotting of the legislative session due to consider the proposal. Due to a lack of preparation, the ballot was postponed to late November 2004. Burundi is still trying to emerge from a civil war that began in 1993 when several groups drawn from the large Hutu majority took up arms against a government and army then dominated by a Tutsi elite.

Sylvie Kinigi

Politician

Sylvie Kinigi was Prime Minister of Burundi from 10 July 1993 to 7 February 1994, the first and to date only woman to hold the position.

Selemani Ndikumana

Footballer

Selemani Yamin Ndikumana {born 18 March 1987) is a Burundian footballer, who currently plays for Al-Merrikh SC.

Ntare V of Burundi

Politician

Ntare V of Burundi was the king of Burundi from June to November 1966. Until his accession, he was known as Crown Prince Charles Ndizeye. He deposed his father, Mwambutsa IV in 1966. King Ntare himself was deposed in a military coup led by Michel Micombero in 1966; the King went into exile in West Germany. He once made a short visit to Denmark because of his great interest in the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. Ntare V returned to Burundi in April 1972. Soon afterwards the Hutus began an uprising against the government. On April 29, reportedly at the behest of President Micombero, Ntare was executed at the Ibwami royal palace in Gitega, though little information is available on the exact circumstances. The Hutu uprising was quelled by Micombero's forces. About 150,000 people, mostly Hutus, died in the ensuing inter-tribal fighting. Ntare V was educated at Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland. His mother was Queen Baramparaye; he had one brother

Esther Kamatari

Politician

Princess Esther Kamatari is a writer, model, and exiled Burundian princess. Esther Kamatari grew up in Burundi as a member of the royal family. Following independence in 1962, the king was overthrown in a military coup d'etat, and the monarchy abolished in 1966. Kamatari fled the country in 1970 after her father's assassination and settled in Paris, where she became a model. An attempt to re-establish the kingdom ended with the murder of King Ntare V in 1972. Burundi's post-independence history has been dominated by tensions between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority. The civil war of the 1990s in Burundi and conflicts with neighbouring countries and the plight of thousands of child-victims of war led her to become involved with the Association of the People of Burundi in France. In Burundi she is known for her humanitarian work. A peace brokered by South Africa has made elections possible in Burundi, and Esther Kamatari and her Abahuza party, which means "bringing people together," will run on the platform of restoration of the monarchy.

Alexis Sinduhije

Journalist

Alexis Sinduhije is a Burundian journalist and politician. After founding Radio Publique Africaine during the Burundi Civil War, Sinduhije received a CPJ International Press Freedom Award and was named to the Time 100 list of most influential people. In 2007, he left journalism to run for president, but was arrested in 2008 on a charge of "insulting the president," Pierre Nkurunziza, drawing protests on his behalf from the U.S., U.K., and Amnesty International. He was found not guilty and released in 2009. The film "Kamenge, Northern Quarters" follows Sinduhije before, during, and after his incarceration.

Mo Shariff

Soccer Midfielder

Abdalla Mohamed "Mo" Shariff is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Championship side Queens Park Rangers.He is also the brother of Saeed Caballa famous comedian in Slough

Gilbert Tuhabonye

Author

Gilbert Tuhabonye, is an Burundi-born long distance runner, author, and motivational speaker. He was born in Songa, a town in the Commune of Songa, Burundi, where he survived a massacre during the Burundian Civil War. He moved to the United States and wrote a book about his survival.

Sylvestre Ntibantunganya

Politician

Sylvestre Ntibantunganya is a Burundi politician. He was Speaker of the National Assembly of Burundi from December 1993 to 1 October 1994 and President of Burundi from 6 April 1994 to 25 July 1996.

Kassim Bizimana

Soccer Forward

Kassim Bizimana is a Burundian striker who played with VV Sneek in the Netherlands.

Cédric Ciza

Football player

Cédric Ciza is a Burundian footballer who plays for R.S.C. Anderlecht.

Waso Ramadhani

Soccer Defender

Waso Ramadhani is a Burundian defender who played with Simba SC in the Tanzanian Premier League. He played 4 years in the Tanzanian Premier League, first by Young Africans FC and now by Simba SC. He presented his homeland on international level from 2002 between 2007.

Musaba Selemani

Soccer Midfielder

Musaba Selemani is a Burundian footballer who currently plays for RDC Cointe-Liège.

David Habarugira

Soccer Defender

David Habarugira is a Burundian footballer who currently plays for Belgian Second Division side FC Brussels.

Floribert Ndayisaba

Footballer

Floribert Tambwe Ndayisaba is a Burundian footballer, who currently plays for Fantastique Bujumbura.

Amadou Touré

Football player

Amadou Touré is a Burundian-Burkinabé football player who, is playing for FC Wiltz 71 in Luxembourg.

Gervais Rufyikiri

Politician

Gervais Rufyikiri has been the Second Vice President of Burundi since 2010. He became president of the Burundian Senate on 17 August 2005. Rufyikiri is an ethnic Hutu member of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy. Rufyikiri holds a doctorate in Biological, Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Sciences from the Belgian university Université Catholique de Louvain.

Victor Hasson

Man

Victor Hasson

Emmanuel Ngama

Soccer Midfielder

Emmanuel Ngama is a Burundian football player currently playing for Atlanta Lions.

Antoinette Batumubwira

Politician

Antoinette Batumubwira is a Burundian politician. She was foreign minister of the country from 2005 to 2009. She is married to former foreign minister Jean-Marie Ngendahayo. In late 2007, Batumubwira was named as a candidate to succeed Alpha Oumar Konaré as Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union in the election for that post in early 2008. The government tried to obtain the support of other African countries for her candidacy, and African Great Lakes nations pledged that they would support her; however, the government later withdrew her candidacy and backed Jean Ping of Gabon.

Omar Mussa

Soccer Midfielder

Omar Mbanza Mussa Rukundo is a Burundian international footballer, who has played for most of his professional career in Belgium, he plays for Belgian team SK Wilrijk in the 1ste provinciale Antwerpen league.

Jean-Claude Kavumbagu

Journalist

Jean-Claude Kavumbagu is a Burundian Internet journalist who has been arrested on multiple occasions for issues related to his reporting. In 2011, he was charged with treason in a high-profile trial and named a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.

Jean Hakizimana

Football player

Jean Marie Vianney Hakizimana is a Burundian Attacker who plays with AS Inter Star.

Jonas Nahimana

Footballer

Jonas Nahimana is a Rwandan soccer player.

Davy Uwimana

Soccer Defender

Davy Uwimana is a Canadian former professional soccer player who last played for the Trois-Rivières Attak. He was born in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Vladimir Niyonkuru

Soccer Goalkeeper

Vladimir Niyonkuru is a Burundian goalkeeper with Azzam United in the Tanzanian Premier League in Tanzania.

Fuadi Ndayisenga

Soccer Midfielder

Fuadi Ndayisenga is a Burundian midfielder who plays with SC Kiyovu Sport in the Rwandan Premier League.

Therence Sinunguruza

Politician

Therence Sinunguruza is a Burundian Tutsi politician and active member of Union for National Progress, currently serving as First Vice President in charge of political, administrative and security matters. Previously he was a Member of Parliament from 2005 to 2010 and Sinunguruza is known to have held different ministerial positions including Minister of Institutional Reforms from 1994 to 1996, Minister of Justice from 1997 to 2001 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2001 to 2005. He was also the Burundi Ambassador to the United Nations from 1993 to 1994. After President Pierre Nkurunziza was reelected for a second term in 2010, Sinunguruza was appointed 1st Vice President in the Nkurunziza regime. Therence Sinunguruza is known to be multilingual and a big fan of basketball. He is married to Odette Ndikumagenge and father of four children.

Alain Ndizeye

Footballer

Alain Bangama Ndizeye is a Burundian defender who plays with AS Inter Star in the Burundi Premier League.

Aime Kitenge

Soccer Goalkeeper

Aime Debo Kitenge is a retired Burundian goalkeeper last with Thanda Royal Zulu in the Premier Soccer League of South Africa.

Zacharie Gahutu

Man

Zacharie Gahutu is a Burundian diplomat. He was appointed as Burundi's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in July 2009, replacing Augustin Nsanze. Prior to his appointment to the United Nations, Gahutu was the Chief of Staff to the President of the National Assembly of Burundi beginning in March 2007.

Janvier Ndikumana

Footballer

Janvier Ndikumana is a Burundian goalkeeper who currently plays for Randaberg. He played his first international game on 21 June 2008 in Rades against Tunisia, he played 21 minutes and to collect a red card through professional foul.

Guy Camara

Screenwriter

Guy Camara is a film producer, editor and screenwriter.

Christian Nduwimana

Football player

Christian Nduwimana is a Burundian football midfielder. He currently plays for Belgium club K Wolvertem SC.

Karim Nizigiyimana

Soccer Defender

Karim Nizigiyimana is a Burundian football player who currently plays for Rayon Sports FC.

Anatole Kanyenkiko

Politician

Anatole Kanyenkiko was Prime Minister of Burundi from 7 February 1994 to 22 February 1995. An ethnic Tutsi from Ngozi Province, Kanyenkiko was a member of the Union for National Progress party.

Gerard Niyungeko

Judge

Gerard Niyungeko is a Judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, a position he was appointed to in 2006. At the time of his election he was Professor of Law at the University of Burundi at Bujumbura. There, he holds the UNESCO Chair in Education for Peace and Conflicts Resolution. Dr. Niyungeko is also a consultant to the Political Affairs Commission of the African Union.

Laudy Mavugo

Footballer

Laudy Mavugo is Burundian footballer who plays for Muzinga which is playing in the Burundi Premier League. He is a member of Burundi national football team. He plays as a forward.

Joachim Ntahondereye

Man

Joachim Ntahondereye is a bishop in the Catholic Church. He was appointed Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Muyinga in Muyinga, Burundi on December 14, 2002. Previously, he was appointed priest of Ruyigi, Burundi on November 16, 1980. On Wednesday, March 21, 2012, Bishop Ntahondereye was appointed a Consultor of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers by Pope Benedict XVI.

Henri Mbazumutima

Soccer Midfielder

Henri Mbazumutima is a Burundian midfielder who played with Vital'O F.C. in the Burundi Premier League.

Saidi Ndikumana

Soccer Defender

Saidi Ndikumana is a Burundian defender who played with AS Rangers in the Burundi Second Division.

Didier Bizimana

Soccer Midfielder

Didier Bizimana is a retired Burundian Midfielder who last played with SVN before in summer 2007 retired.

Olivier Bahati

Soccer Defender

Olivier Bahati is a Burundian footballer who plays as a defender for Mukura Victory Sports FC in the Rwandan Premier League. Bahati started his career with Mukura Victory Sports in 2004.

Juma Masudi

Football player

Juma Masudi is a Burundian footballer who plays for Inter Star as a striker.

Madjidi Ndikumana

Soccer Defender

Madjidi Ndikumana is a Burundian defender who played with Light Stars FC in the Seychelles League.

Rajab Mwinyi

Soccer Midfielder

Rajab Mwinyi is a Burundian midfield player who plays for Simba SC in Dar es Salaam. He is also a member of the Burundi national football team.

Sutch Ndayishimiye

Soccer Midfielder

Sutche Wambo is a Burundian football player who currently plays for Vital`O FC.

Claude Nahimana

Soccer Forward

Claude Nahimana is a Burundian football player who currently plays for Atlético Olympic FC.

Hussein Nzeyimana

Soccer Midfielder

Hussein Nzeyimana is a Burundian football player who currently plays for Rayon Sports FC.

Hassan Hakizimana

Soccer Defender

Hassan Hakizimana is a Burundian football player who currently plays for Atlético Olympic FC.

Odette Ntahomvukiye

Olympic athlete

Odette Ntahomvukiye is an athlete.

Gabriel Nzeyimana Longo

Soccer Midfielder

Gabriel Nzeyimana Longo is a Burundian football player who currently plays for AS Solidarité Port-Gentil FC.

Léopold Nkurikiye

Soccer Defender

Léopold Nkurikiye is a Burundian football player.

Jeff Nzorika

Soccer Goalkeeper

Jeff Nzorika is a Burundian football player who currently plays for Vital`O FC.

Elsie Uwamahoro

Olympic Swimmer

Beni Binobagira

Swimmer

Christophe Ndayishimiye

Soccer Midfielder

Christophe Ndayishimiye is a Burundian football player.

Olivier Irabaruta

Olympic athlete

Eric Nshimiyimana

Football team manager

Eric Nshimiyimana is a football manager.