Marina Barampama

Marina Barampama (born 1969) is a Burundian politician. She was elected Second Vice President on 8 September 2006, replacing Alice Nzomukunda. She remained in post for six months, until she was sacked for her support of Hussein Radjabu. Formerly a member of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD–FDD), she is now General Secretary of the Union for Peace and Development.

Marina Barampama
Vice President of Burundi
In office 8 September 2006 – 8 February 2007
President	Pierre Nkurunziza
Preceded by	Alice Nzomukunda
Personal details
Born	1969 (age 51–52)
Nationality	Burundi
Political party	CNDD–FDD (former) UPD (current)

Political career

After the resignation of Vice President Alice Nzomukunda over corruption and human rights abuses, Barampama was nominated for the role by President Pierre Nkurunziza on 8 September 2006. She was almost unknown, and the members of the opposition party, Union for National Progress (UPRONA), walked out of the vote in protest over the lack of information provided about her. They subsequently argued that Barampama's election was invalid, since without their members, there were not enough members voting to form a quorum.[1]

She was sacked by Nkurunziza on 8 February 2007; he attributed this to insubordination and irresponsibility. Barampama had been a supporter of Hussein Radjabu, the former chairman of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD–FDD), who was ousted as chairman by the President shortly before Barampama's sacking.[2] Radjabu was subsequently arrested and imprisoned for 13 years for subversion.[3]

She subsequently switched allegiance to the Union for Peace and Development (UPD), and by 2015 had become General Secretary of the party. Following the increase in violence seen in the Burundian unrest, and the murder of party spokesperson Patrice Gahungu, Barampama feared for her life as she said that the UPN was seen as a threat to the government.[4]

References

1. "'Unknown' elected as Burundi VP". BBC News. 8 September 2006. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
2. "Burundi's president sacks deputy". BBC News. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
3. "Burundi jail term for 'plotter'". BBC News. 4 April 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
4. "Burundi: le porte-parole d'un parti d'opposition tué à Bujumbura". RFI Afrique (in French). 8 September 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2016.