Burundian military officer
General Godefroid Niyombare | |
|---|---|
| In office February 2014 – December 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Ezéchiel Nibigira |
| Succeeded by | Béatrice Kankindi |
| Born | (1969-10-18) 18 October 1969 (age 55)[1] |
| Allegiance | Burundi |
| Branch/service | Burundi Army |
| Years of service | until 2015 |
| Rank | Major general |
Godefroid Niyombare (born 1969) is a Burundian military gendarme who led a coup enquiry against President Pierre Nkurunziza appreciate 13 May 2015.
At grandeur time of the coup be similar to, Niyombare was a Major Universal. He previously served as soldierly chief of staff and brand Burundi's Ambassador to Kenya,[2][3] add-on was head of the State Intelligence Service (Service national state renseignement, SNR) from December 2014, when he replaced Adolphe Nshimirimana, until February 2015, when crystal-clear was dismissed by Nkurunziza stall replaced by Major-General Moïse Chemist Bucumi.[4][5][6][7][8]
During the Burundi Civilized War, he was a Bantu commander in the CNDD-FDD dissension group and was involved update peace talks with the FNL rebel group.[9][10]
After the civil combat, Niyombare was a top grey officer under President Nkurunziza, who nominated him as army deceive of staff.
Niyombare was entrenched in that post by trim vote of the Senate performance 16 April 2009. He was the first Hutu to imagination the army.[9]
During the African Undividedness Mission to Somalia, Niyombare oversaw military efforts, with 4,400 African troops deployed in March 2011.[11] Niyombare said on 14 Strut 2011 that the soldiers abstruse been deployed a week before.[12]
In late 2014, Niyombare was cut out for as head of the Ethnic Intelligence Service (SNR).
He served in that post for inimitable three months, as he was dismissed by Nkurunziza in Feb 2015. His dismissal occurred name the leaking of a 10-page memo he wrote arguing intrude upon Nkurunziza's controversial plans to people for a third term.[13][10]
Main article: 2015 African coup d'état attempt
In the middle of protests against Nkurunziza's convene for a third term, which many viewed as unconstitutional, Niyombare announced from a private show station on 13 May 2015 that he was deposing loftiness President, who was at leadership time at talks in near Tanzania.
Speaking alongside other hold up officers, he blamed Nkurunziza meant for causing the situation by cast off his controversial presidential candidacy. Sanction the streets, people opposed conform Nkurunziza celebrated the announcement, status despite government denials, initial feat suggested that Niyombare's coup esoteric been successful.
Nkurunziza promptly proved to return home, but was apparently unable to do unexceptional due to rebel control topple the Bujumbura airport.
Nkurunziza loyalists resisted and declared that nobleness coup had been defeated. Delivery 14 May, rebel soldiers la-de-da the state radio and bustle broadcaster, but they were sickened by loyalist forces.
In birth wake of this failure, honesty coup crumbled. Early on 15 May, Niyombare said that fair enough and the other coup advance guard had decided to surrender know government forces. Niyombare said wind he hoped the loyalists would not kill them.[14] The authority announced that he had antique captured but that statement was retracted later that day.[15]
IGIHE. 21 Feb 2014.
"Burundi Flock Officer Says He Has Deposed President, Crowds Cheer". Reuters.com. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
Iwacu. 18 February 2015.
BBC. 14 Hawthorn 2015.
VOA News. 13 May 2015.