Jean‐Marie Ngendahayo

Jean‐Marie Ngendahayo (born 1956) is a Burundian politician.

Early life and education Jean‐Marie Ngendahayo was born in 1956 in Cibitoke Province, Ruanda-Urundi.

Ngendahayo initially worked as a teacher, but eventually took up a position with the European Economic Community. He then worked for the United Nations Children's Fund's Burundi office and the United Nations Population Fund. He joined Melchior Ndadaye's political party, the Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU). In Burundi's legislative elections held in June 1993, Ngendahayo was elected to a seat in the National Assembly He resigned from his post on 25 June and fled to Johannesburg, South Africa, saying that the government was unable to provide for the safety of Burundian citizens. He came back to Burundi in 2002. In September 2007 he left the CNDD-FDD, citing his unhappiness with the government's actions, particularly concerning human rights.

Later life In 2008 Ngendahayo went into exile in the United States. He returned to Burundi two years later and began writing and teaching.