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World Leader Profile: Pierre Nkurunziza

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Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza speaks during the Presidential plennary session of the 1st European Development Days in Brussels, Friday 17 November 2006. Ten African Heads of State and governments converge in Brussels to discuss governance and more effective development assistance. EU- Africa week will focus on the Governance Forum, which builds on the European Development Consensus that puts good governance, democracy and respect for human rights at the centre of development assistance and poverty reduction. OLIVIER HOSLET/EPA/Newscom. License this image from Newscom.com: epaphotosthree324964

Pierre Nkurunziza became president of Burundi in 2005. He was elected to a second term in 2010, and is running for a third term this June. Recently, protests erupted in Burundi, and Nkurunziza has been prominently featured in the news. There are many complaints against the politician. He reportedly persecuted several journalists who critiqued his policies. He’s also been accused of threatening his opponents – (when all six opponents stepped down, Nkurunziza was able to secure 90 percent of the vote). The tension in Burundi had been rising for a while – but it came to a head this month, when Nkurunziza announced that he would be running for a third term.

Nkurunziza’s decision to run for a third term led to wide-spread protest in Burundi. Thousands of demonstrators demanded that he retire from the presidency at the end of his second term. Last week, Nkurunziza met with leaders in Tanzania to discuss the conflict. In his absence, Burundi General, Godefroid Niyombare led a coup. He hoped to oust president Nkurunziza from office. The coup failed when Nkurunziza returned to the country armed with security. Protestors are still demonstrating in Burundi, and the city remains divided despite the failed coup.

Keep scrolling to see more, and then head back to Newscom, where you can always find the best pictures of Burundi’s president, Pierre Nkurunziza.

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German President Joachim Gauck welcomes President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza with military honours at Bellevue Palace, Germany, 12 December 2012. Britta Pedersen/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom. License this image from Newscom.com: dpaphotos811649

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Dutch King Willem-Alexander (R) welcomes President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi in Wassenaar, Netherlands, 31 March 2014. King Willem-Alexander invited Nkurunziza for an audience to the King’s residence De Eikenhorst. FREEK VAN DEN BERGH / POOL/EPA/Newscom. License this image from Newscom.com: epalive128649

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Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza pictured as he arrives to a dinner hosted by French President Jacques Chirac with the Africa-France Summit leaders in Cannes, southern France on February 15, 2007, on the eve of the two-day Africa-France Summit, which will focus on the theme ‘Africa and the World Balance’. Ludovic/Pool/ABACAUSA.COM/Newscom. License this image from Newscom.com: abaphotos168679

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Former South African President Nelson Mandela (C) makes a point as he talks to Burundi interim president and CNDD-FDD party head Pierre Nkurunziza (L) and head of Burundi’s FRODEBU party Jean Minani (R) during a break in the Burundi peace talks in Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday 21 July 2004. As the initiator of the ongoing peace process, Mandela paid a courtesy visit to the talks facilitated by South Africa’s Deputy President Jacob Zuma to offer his support, saying “I am not coming here to resolve any disputes, I am leaving that up to Deputy President Zuma and President Thabo Mbeki”, while describing both men as “the best negotiators in the country”. It was speculated late on Tuesday night that certain factions within the talks were calling for Mandela’s intervention. Mandela started the Burundi peace talks in 2002 and then handed his role as peace envoy over to Zuma. Deadlocked talks eventually made headway when just after 1am on Wednesday Mbeki, Zuma and the Burundian delegates including the former rebel CNDD-FDD group led by Pierre Nkurunziza, the Tutsi-based UPRONA group, the Hutu-based FRODEBU group and the leader of the transitional government, Domitien Ndayizeye, compiled a document outlining a power sharing strategy. Not all parties have agreed to the document but after four days of deadlocked talks, it was decided to move onto discussions concerning the ceasefire agreement that was signed in December 2002. JON HRUSA/EPA/Newscom. License this image from Newscom.com: epaphotostwo983274

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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza address reporters before their bilateral meeting at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on August 4, 2014. Leaders from across the African continent are in the nation’s capital for a three-day U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, the largest event any U.S. President has held with African heads of state and government. State Department/Sipa USA/Newscom. License this image from Newscom.com: sipaphotosfour890627

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President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza (R) is greeted by French President Jacques Chirac (L) before starting their meeting, at Elysee Palace, in Paris, France, Friday 10 November 2006. Mr. Nkurunziza is on an official visit to France. HORACIO VILLALOBOS/EPA/Newscom. License this image from Newscom.com: epaphotosthree321905

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German President Joachim Gauck (R) welcomes President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza with military honours at Bellevue Palace, Germany, 12 December 2012. Britta Pedersen/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom. License this image from Newscom.com: dpaphotos811644

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Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza speaks during the Presidential plennary session of the 1st European Development Days in Brussels, Friday 17 November 2006. Ten African Heads of State and governments converge in Brussels to discuss governance and more effective development assistance. EU- Africa week will focus on the Governance Forum, which builds on the European Development Consensus that puts good governance, democracy and respect for human rights at the centre of development assistance and poverty reduction. OLIVIER HOSLET/EPA/Newscom. License this image from Newscom.com: epaphotosthree324962


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