Aimable Manirakiza is chief executive officer of the Centre for Development and Enterprises Great Lakes, a think tank based in Burundi that defends the principles of a free society and free market through reduction of barriers to prosperity and opportunities. CDE Great Lakes believes that only civil, political, and economic freedom allows Burundian people to get out of poverty. CDE policy proposals are being formulated to support current decision-making processes in the legislative and regulation agency of the Burundian government. Manirakiza received the Africa Liberty Award as part of the Birashoboka Project of CDE in 2018.