Nicholas Bwakira

Nicolas Bwakira (November 10, 1941 – March 5, 2021) was a Burundian diplomat, international civil servant and pan-africanist. During his long and exemplary career, Bwakira took on senior roles and responsibilities at various institutions, including the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the University of South Africa (UNISA), the African Union, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI). For over half a century, Bwakira worked for the less fortunate, in the humanitarian field which he mentored for sometime. He was a pan-Africanist and his ideological frameworks continued to influence the movement. He attended primary school in Ijenda, Mugongo-Manga and went to begin secondary school at the Petit Séminaire of Mugera. He moved to Bujumbura to attend high school, first at the Athenée Royal and then at the College du Saint Esprit where he obtained his high school diploma. He was awarded a scholarship to attend university in France, where he first studied Law at the University of Nancy before moving to Paris to complete his undergraduate degree in Law at the Université de Paris, Sorbonne. He pursued graduate studies in International Public Law at the same institution. While he was a student in Paris, he participated in the demonstrations of “May 1968”.

Namibia Independence Bwakira contributed immensely to Namibia's transition to independence, he oversaw the return of Namibia exiles in his role as UNHCR Deputy Director for Africa in 1989. Bwakira came to Namibia in 1989 as part of the United Nations Transitional Assistance Group (UNTAG). Prior to that, Bwakira had interacted with Namibian refugees in Angola where he was stationed as the UNHCR representative for Angola. When the first fight carrying Namibians arrived at the then JG Strydom airport, now Hosea Kutako International Airport, Bwakira was there to satisfy himself that exiles were safely back to their motherland. Bwakira performed his tasks with utmost diligence and accomplishment. His eldest daughter Carine, then a high school learner came to visit him. Carine had long known President Nujoma whom she fondly called "my President" during her father’s posting in Angola. She had the posters of President Nujoma and Che Guevara hanging in her room. During her visit to her father in 1989, Carine spent six weeks in Namibia and had an opportunity to meet “her President”.

African Union Special Envoy to Somalia and Head of AMISOM From 2007 to 2009, Bwakira served as the Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to Somalia and Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). During his tenure, he facilitated mediation among Somali stakeholders and worked to mobilize regional and international support for peacebuilding efforts in Somalia. He is remembered by the ISS colleagues for his inquisitive mind and energy, his meticulous preparations, and contribution to the work of the ISS. During the AHA's 25th anniversary markings held in Kigali, Rwanda, Bwakira delivered the event's closing remarks, highlighting the role of African NGOs and the need for strengthened solidarity and collaboration between all stakeholders to find durable solutions to forced displacement in Africa. Bwakira was a thoughtful and meticulous person, a humanitarian at heart and an ardent pan-Africanist. His voice and committed support for African NGOs, as a critical component in the humanitarian sector will be greatly missed.