By Georgiana Mugisha-Fitzpatrick
In Burundi politics General Neva has always been known as the talented Neva the negotiator. As soon as he joined the CNDD and later CNDD-FDD party General Neva demonstrated a sense of leadership and responsibility.
In 2003 CNDD-FDD signed the global ceasefire with the government of Burundi in 2003 in Pretoria under Mandela mediation. General Evariste Ndayishimiye was the negotiator in chief of the global ceasefire.
General Neva will later head the Joint Commission CMC ceasefire in the peace process. As Minister of the Interior and Public Security, he also head the government’s delegation to the ceasefire negotiations with the latest rebel movement PALIPEHUTU-FNL led by Agathon Rwasa. On September 06, 2007 those negotiations resulted into a ceasefire agreements.
General Neva has been credited for the successful far-reaching reforms in the organization’s politico-military of CNDD-FDD movement that resulted into the CND-FDD political party in 2004.
Evariste Ndayishimiye has held several high political and military positions in the government. He was Chief of the Logistics Staff in the National Defense Force. He was also the Minister of the Interior, Security and Communal Development. He created the National Communal Investment Fund, FONIC in order to successfully achieve the implementation of decentralization and community based development.
A trusted friend of President Pierre Nkurunziza, General Neva held several high positions as Head of Cabinet responsible for military matters and later as Head of Civil Cabinet to the President.
On multiple occasions, hé was the envoy and special envoy of President Nkurunziza in several African states such as Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Mali, Somalia, Nigeria, Namibia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Zimbabwe. He also attended various fora and summits such as the African Union, and even at the ECOWAS-ECCAS summit. He was also the Director General of the Société Burundaise de Gestion des Entrepôts et d’Assistance des Avions en Escale (SOBUGEA).
It’s worth mentioning that General Neva is the master designer of the CNDD-FDD party emblem the eagle “Inkona” in Kirundi.
