President Pierre Nkurunziza Day in Burundi Date in the current year: June 8, 2025

Pierre Nkurunziza was Burundi’s ninth president and its longest-serving leader. He was born on December 18, 1964 in a Hutu family. His father, Eustache Ngabisha, was a politician and associate of the late Prime Minister Louis Rwagasore. When Nkurunziza was six, his father was killed in a genocide carried out by the Tutsi-dominated army and government.

Nkurunziza graduated from university in 1990 with a degree in physical education. He then worked as a schoolteacher, assistant lecturer, and football coach. He got involved in politics following the assassination of President Ndadaye in a coup attempt and the outbreak of the Burundian Civil War in 1993. He joined the moderate rebel group National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) and became its general secretary in 1998 and president in 2000.

In 2003, the CNDD-FDD became a legitimate political party, and Nkurunziza secured a position in President Domitien Ndayizeye’s transitional government. He was the sole candidate in the 2005 presidential election and received 94% of the vote. Nkurunziza was sworn in on August 26, 2005. He was popular during most of his first term because he focused on rebuilding the country after the civil war. However, toward the end of the term, his reputation became tarnished due to corruption.

In 2010, Nkurunziza was elected to a second term. Once again, he was the only candidate, as all the others had withdrawn from the ballot due to alleged fraud and intimidation. Nkurunziza was less popular during his second term, yet he decided to run for a third term. His decision sparked unrest, but he was still elected.

During his third term, Nkurunziza’s regime was marked by increasing isolation, political repression, human rights violations, growing poverty, and widespread emigration. He declined to run for a fourth term and died of a heart attack on June 8, 2020, shortly before the official end of his term.

Following his sudden death, the anniversary of Nkurunziza’s death was designated a public holiday: President Pierre Nkurunziza Day. Although his tenure was controversial, especially his disputed third term marked by political unrest and violence, Nkurunziza is widely regarded as a significant figure in Burundian history. He is credited with helping rebuild the country after the civil war. Nkurunziza Day celebrates his contributions to the nation and is marked by official ceremonies and commemorative events.

Nkurunziza is not the only Burundian president with a public holiday dedicated to him. For example, April 6 is President Ntaryamira Day, commemorating the death anniversary of Burundi’s sixth president, Cyprien Ntaryamira. Ntaryamira served for only two months before his plane was shot down during the Burundian Civil War. October 21 is President Ndadaye Day, which marks the anniversary of the death of the fourth president of Burundi, Melchior Ndadaye. Ndadaye served for three months before being assassinated in a failed military coup.