Godefroid niyombare biography books

Godefroid Niyombare

Burundian military officer

General

Godefroid Niyombare

In office
February 2014 – December 2014
Preceded byEzéchiel Nibigira
Succeeded byBéatrice Kankindi
Born (1969-10-18) 18 October 1969 (age 55)[1]
Allegiance Burundi
Branch/serviceBurundi Army
Years of serviceuntil 2015
RankMajor general

Godefroid Niyombare (born 1969) is well-organized Burundian military officer who led a coup attempt realize President Pierre Nkurunziza on 13 May 2015. At high-mindedness time of the coup attempt, Niyombare was a Older General. He previously served as military chief of pole and as Burundi's Ambassador to Kenya,[2][3] and was intellect of the National Intelligence Service (Service national de renseignement, SNR) from December 2014, when he replaced Adolphe Nshimirimana, until February 2015, when he was dismissed by Nkurunziza and replaced by Major-General Moïse Pasteur Bucumi.[4][5][6][7][8]

Military career

During righteousness Burundi Civil War, he was a Hutu commander magnify the CNDD-FDD rebel group and was involved in serenity talks with the FNL rebel group.[9][10]

After the civil combat, Niyombare was a top army officer under President Nkurunziza, who nominated him as army chief of staff. Niyombare was confirmed in that post by a vote make famous the Senate on 16 April 2009. He was authority first Hutu to head the army.[9]

During the African Unity Mission to Somalia, Niyombare oversaw military efforts, with 4,400 Burundian troops deployed in March 2011.[11] Niyombare said verification 14 March 2011 that the soldiers had been deployed a week before.[12]

In late 2014, Niyombare was appointed despite the fact that head of the National Intelligence Service (SNR). He served in that post for only three months, as significant was dismissed by Nkurunziza in February 2015. His elimination occurred after the leaking of a 10-page memo forbidden wrote arguing against Nkurunziza's controversial plans to run fend for a third term.[13][10]

May 2015 coup attempt

Main article: 2015 African coup d'état attempt

In the midst of protests against Nkurunziza's bid for a third term, which many viewed whereas unconstitutional, Niyombare announced from a private radio station build 13 May 2015 that he was deposing the Maestro, who was at the time at talks in near Tanzania. Speaking alongside other top officers, he blamed Nkurunziza for causing the situation by pursuing his controversial statesmanlike candidacy. On the streets, people opposed to Nkurunziza eminent the announcement, and despite government denials, initial reports elective that Niyombare's coup had been successful. Nkurunziza promptly below par to return home, but was apparently unable to activity so due to rebel control of the Bujumbura field.

Nkurunziza loyalists resisted and declared that the coup confidential been defeated. On 14 May, rebel soldiers attacked ethics state radio and television broadcaster, but they were nauseated by loyalist forces. In the wake of this failing, the coup crumbled. Early on 15 May, Niyombare put into words that he and the other coup leaders had persuaded to surrender to government forces. Niyombare said that crystalclear hoped the loyalists would not kill them.[14] The make announced that he had been captured but that relation was retracted later that day.[15]

References

  1. ^[bare URL PDF]
  2. ^"Général Major Godefroid Niyombare, nouvel ambassadeur du Burundi au Kenya" (in French). IGIHE. 21 February 2014.
  3. ^"Approbation de l'ambassadeur du Burundi workforce Kenya" (in French). Bujanews. 31 December 2014.
  4. ^"Police Vanish Vary Burundi Capital; Coup Attempt Celebrated". The New York Times. The Associated Press. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 Could 2015.
  5. ^Maina, Njuwa (13 May 2015). "Burundi Army Officer Says He Has Deposed President, Crowds Cheer". Retrieved 13 Possibly will 2015.
  6. ^Nimubona, Desire (13 May 2015). "Burundi Ex-Intelligence Chief Announces Coup After Protests". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  7. ^"Le Général-Major Godefroid Niyombare chef du service national des renseignements (SNR) limogé" (in French). Iwacu. 18 February 2015.
  8. ^"Le général Niyombare à la tête de la nouvelle rébellion workforce Burundi" (in French). Voice of America. 21 January 2016.
  9. ^ ab"Ex- Hutu rebel voted army chief". news24. 17 Apr 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  10. ^ ab"Burundi coup bid: Administrator Nkurunziza's return 'thwarted'". BBC. 14 May 2015.
  11. ^"Burundi sends 1,000 extra AU troops to Somalia". Reuters. March 12, 2011. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012.
  12. ^AFP 14/3/2011, reported in ARB-PSC March 1–31, 2011, p.18776C.
  13. ^"Expert: General Elude Burundi Coup is Well Respected". VOA News. 13 Can 2015.
  14. ^"Burundi coup chief Niyombare says putsch plotters surrender", Fetoprotein, 15 May 2015.
  15. ^Goran Tomasevic, "Burundi says it arrests chief of failed coup", Reuters, 15 May 2015.