Hopes of reviving good relations between Rwanda and Burundi have once again dwindled after Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye appointed a new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Edouard Bizimana, a man many describe as deeply divisive and ethnically biased—traits increasingly seen among some leaders in the Great Lakes region.
On August 5, 2025, President Ndayishimiye reshuffled his cabinet, reducing the number of ministries from 15 to 13 and naming Dr. Edouard Bizimana as the new Foreign Affairs Minister. This came just a day after he appointed a new Prime Minister, Nestor Ntahontuye, replacing Gervais Ndirakobuca who was moved to lead the Senate.
Dr. Bizimana’s appointment was celebrated by some top Burundian officials, including Presidential Advisor Willy Nyamitwe, who wished him success in promoting Burundi’s international interests. However, some Burundians and Rwandans who know him view his appointment as a step backward for regional diplomacy.
Burundian human rights activist Pacifique Nininahazwe, a long-time critic of the CNDD-FDD government since 2015 and earlier, wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“With Albert Shingiro, we had a Foreign Minister who denied the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. With Edouard Bizimana, we now have a man marked by division. He deeply hates Rwanda. How can he help reduce conflicts in the region?”
Nininahazwe’s post was accompanied by screenshots of past tweets by Bizimana showing divisive and discriminatory rhetoric. In one, he questioned:
“How can Nduhungirehe, a Hutu from Rwanda, become the spokesperson for Congolese Tutsi…?”
He also once tweeted about 796 Rwandans returning from Congo forests through Rubavu District, suggesting that their fate in Rwanda was uncertain and many might be killed.
Some Rwandans who know him also reacted strongly to Bizimana’s appointment. Rwanda’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Sheikh Abdul Karim Harerimana, tweeted:
“Mr. Edouard Bizimana is an internationally known extremist. Just wait and see.”
Christa Mongi Muhangi, who says she was born in Ngara, Tanzania and raised in Lubumbashi and Bujumbura, wrote:
“Appointing Edouard Bizimana, a man consumed by ethnic hatred, is an insult to diplomacy and peace in the region. This decision shows CNDD-FDD has no interest in reconciliation or security, only in promoting a toxic ideology. Burundi is heading for a wall.”
Who is Dr. Edouard Bizimana?
Dr. Edouard Bizimana was born in Burundi on February 10, 1968 (aged 57), is married and has four children.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Modern English Letters from the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon (1998), and both a Master’s and PhD in International Relations from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC).
His PhD thesis focused on:
“Armed Conflicts and Environmental Protection in the Great Lakes Region.”
During his academic journey, he interned at Cameroon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cameroon’s Athletics Federation, and the Diplomatic Studies Institute in Cairo.
In 2004, he joined Burundi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an advisor to the director of cooperation with Europe and North America. He later became deputy head of protocol in the office of the Second Vice President (2006), and First Counselor at Burundi’s Embassy in Washington, USA (2007–2010).
In 2012, he was tasked with overseeing international and regional organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was later appointed permanent secretary of the Forum of Political Parties (FDP).
From June 2012, he served as Burundi’s Ambassador to Germany, reportedly playing a key role in strengthening ties between Burundi and various European countries and partners.
Dr. Bizimana replaces Ambassador Albert Shingiro, who had worked tirelessly to restore Burundi’s diplomatic relations with neighboring countries and to reintegrate it onto the global stage after years of isolation.
