Clotilde Niragira
Clotilde Niragira (1968 – 19 February 2021) was a Burundian politician and lawyer. She served as head of three separate ministries in Pierre Nkurunziza's government and was Secretary-General of Burundi's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Early career Clotilde Niragira was born in the Commune of Bugenyuzi in Karuzi Province, Burundi, in 1968. She was married with three children and was a lawyer before entering politics. In 2005 she was appointed Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Government Seals in the country's Council of Ministers by President Pierre Nkurunziza. In 2006 Niragira authorised the release of 3,300 prisoners. She was appointed Minister of Civil Service, Labour and Social Security by Nkurunziza in a cabinet reshuffle on 14 November 2007. Niragira was almost immediately faced with a strike by civil servants demanding a 34% pay rise. In 2009 she was appointed Head of the Civil Cabinet and was later Nkurunziza's Deputy Chief of Staff. Minister of National Solidarity Niragira was appointed Minister of National Solidarity, Human Rights and Gender by Nkurunziza on 7 November 2011. She instigated the creation of a national care centre for victims of sexual violence in 2010. In October 2014, acting in her ministerial capacity, Niragira assisted those