President Évariste Ndayishimiye has appointed three new ministers in a fresh cabinet reshuffle, according to a presidential decree issued Tuesday, in the latest changes to a government that has seen frequent turnover since 2025.
Under the decree, Eng. Egide Nijimbere was named minister of infrastructure, social housing, transport and equipment; Dr. Fidèle Nkezabahizi was appointed minister of public health; and Ambassador Evelyne Butoyi was named minister of communication and media.
The appointments were made “on the proposal of the Prime Minister and after consultation with the Vice-President,” the decree states.
The new appointments replace key figures in the current cabinet formed in August 2025 following the appointment of Prime Minister Nestor Ntahontuye.
The communication and media portfolio fell vacant after the death of former minister Gabby Buagaga, who was killed in what authorities described as a road accident earlier this month. His death triggered a state funeral attended by senior officials, highlighting the prominence of the role within government. Ambassador Butoyi who was serving as the Burundian ambassador to Zambia now takes over the ministry at a time when state communication and media regulation remain politically sensitive.
At the infrastructure ministry, Damien Niyonkuru who had taken office in January 2026 has been relieved after less than three months in the role. His tenure coincided with growing criticism over delays in public works, transport bottlenecks and persistent fuel supply disruptions affecting the economy.
The latest reshuffle continues a pattern of relatively short ministerial tenures under Ndayishimiye’s administration. A January 2026 cabinet adjustment similarly replaced officials who had served only months after their initial appointments.
Burundi’s current government emerged from a major political reconfiguration in mid 2025, when Ntahontuye was appointed prime minister following parliamentary elections and a broader restructuring of state institutions.
While the presidency did not provide detailed reasons for the latest changes, such reshuffles are often framed as part of ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and align the government with national development priorities.
The decree notes that the new appointments take immediate effect, with the prime minister tasked with implementing the changes.
The new appointed ministers are expected to be sworn in tomorrow Wednesday in the presence of the Burundi president Evariste Ndayishimiye at the parliament in Bujumbura.
