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Executive Branch Reform – 2003

Not all major parties to the conflict signed the agreement until 2003. During this three year gap, implementation of the executive branch reform provision began.

The Arusha accord provided for the directly elected president except for the transitional president who would be indirectly elected. President now can serve two five years terms. Agreement also provided for two vice presidents approved separately in the assembly and the senate by a majority of their members. The accords provide one ministerial position to the party or coalition that secured more than one-twentieth of the vote. In Arusha accord, parties also agreed to establish an independent Ombudsperson to hear complaints and conduct inquiries relating to mismanagement and infringements of citizens’ rights committed by members of the public administration and the judiciary. The Ombudsperson was to be appointed by the National assembly with ¾ majority and is responsible to report to the assembly and senate annually.

On 1 November 2001, interim President Pierre Buyoya from Union from National Progress Party(UPRONA) was inaugurated for the initial 18 months of transitional period with Domitien Ndayizeye from Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU) as the vice president.¹

On 30 April 2003, Domitien Ndayizeye became interim president (Tutsi).²

1. “BURUNDI: New government inaugurated, dawn of a new era,” Irin News, accessed February 15, 2013, www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=12636; “Timeline Burundi,” Timelines of World History, accessed February 18, 2013, http://timelines.ws/countries/BURUNDI.HTML.
2. Ibid.