Chief of the Defence Staff (Burundi)

Chief of Defence Staff
Chief of Defence Staff
Chef de la Force de Défense Nationale du Burundi (French) ; Umukuru w’ibiro bikuru vya gisirikare (Kirundi)
	Incumbent; General Prime Niyongabo; since 9 November 2012
	Burundi National Defence Force
Type	Chief of defence; Chief of staff;
Abbreviation	C/FDNB
Reports to	Minister of National Defense & War Veterans
Seat	État-Major Général, Bujumbura
Appointer	President of Burundi; with advice and consent from Senate
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Burundi; Arrêté Royale No 001/614; Loi organique N°1/ 022 du 31 Décembre 2004; Loi organique N°1/ 04 du 20 février 2017;
Formation	7 March 1966
First holder	Major Albert Shibura
Deputy	Chef Adjoint de la Force de Défense
Website	Official website

The Chief of the Defence Staff (French: Chef de la Force de Défense Nationale du Burundi, Kirundi: Umukuru w’ibiro bikuru vya gisirikare , C/FDNB; lit. 'Chief of the Burundi National Defence Force') is the military head of the Burundi National Defence Force, overseeing all military operations.

The headquarters of the army's general staff (French: État-Major Général de le FDNB, EMG/FDNB) is made up of three major components: the Land Force, the Air Force and the Navy.

List of officeholders

Chiefs of staff (1962–1966)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Ref.
1		Colonel Verwayen	1 July 1962	7 March 1966	3 years, 8 months	^[1]

Chiefs of defence staff (1966–present)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Ref.
2		Major Albert Shibura (born 1939)	7 March 1966	6 May 1967	1 year, 1 month	^[1]
3		Major General Thomas Ndabemeye	6 May 1967	1976	8–9 years	^[1]
4		Colonel Sylvère Nzohabonayo	1976	1977	0–1 years	^[1]
5		Colonel Antoine Niyungeko	1977	1981	3–4 years	^[1]
6		Lieutenant colonel Charles Kazatsa	1981	1982	3–4 years	^[1]
7		Colonel Herménélgide Karenzo	1982	1987	4–5 years	^[1]
8		Colonel Edmond Ndakazi	1987	1989	1–2 years	^[1]
9		Colonel Michel Mibarurwa	1989	1993	3–4 years	^[1]
10		Colonel Jean Bikomagu (died 2015)	1993	20 August 1996	2–3 years	^[1]
11		Lieutenant general Vincent Niyungeko	1996	2002	5–6 years	^[1]
12		Lieutenant general Germain Niyoyankana (born 1955)	2002	2005	2–3 years	^[1]
13		Major General Samuel Gahiro	2005	2009	3–4 years	^[1]
14		Major General Godefroid Niyombare (born 1969)	2009	2012	2–3 years	^[1]^[2]
15		General Prime Niyongabo (born 1970)	9 November 2012	Incumbent	13 years, 4 months	^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ "Historique De La FDNB". Force de Défense Nationale du Burundi (in French). Retrieved 12 December 2025.
^ "Exclusive: Burundi coup plotter says he had 'no other option'". France 24. 13 May 2015.
^ "Burundi army chief Gen Niyongabo survives assassination bid". BBC News. 11 September 2015.

[chief-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ "Historique De La FDNB". Force de Défense Nationale du Burundi (in French). Retrieved 12 December 2025.

[2] "Exclusive: Burundi coup plotter says he had 'no other option'". France 24. 13 May 2015.

[3] "Burundi army chief Gen Niyongabo survives assassination bid". BBC News. 11 September 2015.

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