Ronnie Brunswijk

Ronnie Brunswijk (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɔni ˈbrʏnsʋɛik]; born 7 March 1961) is a Surinamese politician, businessman, former rebel leader and footballer, who served as the Vice President of Suriname from 2020 to 2025.

Brunswijk served as the personal bodyguard of military dictator Dési Bouterse in the early 1980s, but was discharged after asking for a raise, and denied back pay. In 1985, he formed the Surinamese Liberation Army, better known as the Jungle Commando. Brunswijk sought to gain recognition and rights for the Maroon minority of the interior, descendants of runaway African slaves who had established independent communities in the 17th and 18th centuries. From 1986, his forces fought against the national military under Bouterse in the Surinamese Interior War, a civil war that resulting in hundreds of deaths and more than 10,000 refugees in French Guiana, until a peace treaty was signed in 1992.

Brunswijk remained active in politics, serving as chair of the General Liberation and Development Party (Algemene Bevrijdings- en Ontwikkelingspartij, ABOP), and as a representative in the National Assembly. In addition he is the owner of Marowijne football club Inter Moengotapoe, which he has also appeared for as a player. On 29 June 2020, Brunswijk became Chairperson of the National Assembly of Suriname.

On 13 July, Brunswijk was elected vice-president by acclamation in an uncontested election. He was inaugurated on 16 July.