Gervais Ndirakobuca

Gervais Ndirakobuca (born 1970) is a Burundian politician, retired police lieutenant general and former rebel commander serving as the President of the Senate of Burundi since 5 August 2025. Prior to that, he was the Prime Minister of Burundi from 7 September 2022 until 5 August 2025. And prior to that, he was the Minister of Interior, Public Security, and Community Development. He is known for his violent crackdown of the 2015 civil protest in Burundi and was under United States and European Union sanctions for human rights violations when President Évariste Ndayishimiye appointed him security minister.

Biography

Gervais Ndirakobuca was born in 1970 in Bukinanyana in the Cibitoke Province of Burundi.

He was a rebel commander during the Burundian Civil War that ended in 2005. His nickname was "Ndakugarika" meaning 'I will kill you' in the Kirundi language. After the civil war ended, he joined the National Police of Burundi and rose to the rank of Commissioner (lieutenant-general). He was addressed as General. He was seen as a de facto deputy prime minister or 'super minister' with his overwhelming portfolio across three key ministries of Interior, Security, and Community Development in the Nkurunziza's government, but was merged into a single ministry by Ndayishimiye and given to Ndirakobuca.

After the Senate election of 23 July 2025, he was elected member of the senate for the new Province of Bujumbura. He was elected on 5 August 2025 as President of the Senate. Along side him, Générose Ngendanganya was elected 1st Vice President of the Senate and Clotilde Kampimbare as 2nd Vice President of the Senate. All of them were elected for a 5 year term.