The president of the Republic of Burundi, His Excellency Pierre Nkrunziza, is expected to arrive in the country today Friday, the 20th of February 2009.

The Burundian president, who is to be on a three-day working visit in the country, is expected to land at the Banjul International Airport at 4pm.
Accordingly, the general public, notably students, voluntary organizations and various cultural troupes, are expected to give a tumultuous and resounding welcome to the Burundian head of state, a move befitting the peacefulness and hospitality that the Smiling Coast is known for.

Accordingly, students and other citizens will start assembling right from the gate of the Airport across Lamin, Tallinding, to the Traffic Light on Kairaba Avenue, where the visiting head of state will take the Senegambia Highway down to Sheraton Hotel, where he will be lodged. During his stay, the Burundian leader will visit a number of development sites such as Coco Ocean Hotel (Bijilo), the Brikama Power Plant, Sandele Eco Tourism Camp at Kartong, Sulayman Junkung Jammeh Hospital,  amongst others. Kanilai, President Jammeh’s home village, is also  expected to welcome President Nkurunziza.

Profile;
Pierre Nkurunziza was born in December 1963, in the northern province of Ngozi, Burundi. The son of a former governor, he had a sister and six brothers, two of whom died during the killings following the assassination of Hutu President Melchior Ndadaye by disgruntled soldiers in 1993 (read The Big Read on the former Burundian leader). Three others are reported to have died in the bush. Mr Nkurunziza is married with two sons, aged  9 and 11. He has become a born-again Protestant, and is described by those close to him as religious but devoid of fundamentalism. Nkurunziza belongs to the younger generation of Hutu leaders, whose political and military careers started after President Ndadaye's killing.

Before joining the rebels, he was a teacher, and was not known for his political activities. "I was pushed into rebellion by the inter-ethnic massacres that were taking place at the university in 1995," he said. Since he came to power Nkurunziza has successfully faced the challenges of elevating the standard of living of millions of Burundians, which has plummeted during the 12 years of civil war. At the same time, he has succeeded in reassuring the minority Tutsis that their future is secured in a democratic government led by a  Hutu majority.

His government was instrumental in facilitating and engaging the only reported active rebel group, the National Liberation Forces, in dialogue with the hopes of reaching a peace agreement.