Adolphe Nshimirimana

{{Infobox Person

|birth_date = September 2, 1964

|birth_place = Gitega, Burundi

|death_date = {{death date and age|2015|8|2|1964|9|2|df=y}}

|death_place = Bujumbura, Burundi

|resting_place = Bujumbura-Marie, Burundi

}}

Adolphe Nshimirimana (September 12, 1964 – August 2, 2015) was a Burundian military general who served as army chief of staff, as well as a senior presidential adviser for internal security and close political ally of President Pierre Nkurunziza.{{cite news|title=Controversial general close to Burundi president killed |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/8/3/burundi-general-adolphe-nshimirimana-killed.html |work=Al Jazeera America (Associated Press) |date=2015-08-03 |access-date=2015-08-24}} Observers viewed Lt. Gen. Nshimirimana as Nkurunziza's de facto internal security chief as head of the National Intelligence Service.{{cite news|title=Burundi president's ally killed in drive-by shooting |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/leading-burundi-general-killed-rocket-attack-car-150802100739496.html |work=Al Jazeera English |date=2015-08-02 |access-date=2015-08-24}} He was born at Nyabiraba in Gishubi Commune, Gitega Province.{{cite web|url=http://www.infosgrandslacs.info/productions/lenterrement-du-lt-gnl-adolphe-nshimirimana|language=fr|title=L'enterrement du Lt. Gnl. Adolphe Nshimirimana|date=22 August 2015|publisher=IGL}}

In 2015, President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his intention to seek a third term, leading to widespread opposition and unrest. Nshimirimana helped to defeat the attempted coup d'état against Nkurunziza in May 2015 and was seen as the mastermind behind the crackdown on opposition protesters. Human Rights Watch accused Nshimirimana of becoming "one of the key hard-liners around the president." Nshimirimana's influence increased as the unrest and street protests against Nkurunziza continued in mid-2015. According to Carina Tertsakian of Human Rights Watch, "Despite or perhaps because of his brutal reputation, Adolphe was generally seen as untouchable, with no one in a position of power daring, or even suggesting, holding him to account."

Nshimirimana was killed and three others were seriously injured in a rocket attack on his car at Gare du Nord (North Station) in Bujumbura at 8.30 a.m. on August 2, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.iwacu-burundi.org/un-assassinat-eclair/|language=fr|title=Un assassinat éclair|date=10 August 2015|publisher=Iwacu}}

On August 4, 2015, Nkurunziza ordered the police to find the murderers of Nshimirimana, within ten days. He was considered the right-hand man of the president.{{Cite web|title=Today FM - Burundi's President PIERRE NKURUNZIZA has ordered the police to find the killers of his ally, Lieutenant General ADOLPHE NSHIMIRIMANA within ten days|url=https://todayfmlive.com/news/item/291-burundi-s-president-pierre-nkurunziza-has-ordered-the-police-to-find-the-killers-of-his-ally-lieutenant-general-adolphe-nshimirimana-within-ten-days.html|access-date=2022-01-13|website=todayfmlive.com|language=en-gb}}

On December 13, 2016, Burundi police announced that one of the suspects in Nshimirimana's assassination escaped from prison by killing a prison guard.Gildas Yihundimpundu, [http://www.iol.co.za/news/burundi-generals-alleged-assassin-kills-guard-escapes-7173546 "Burundi general's alleged assassin kills guard, escapes"], African News Agency, December 13, 2016.