Cyprien Ntaryamira
Encyclopedia
Cyprien Ntaryamira was President of Burundi
from 5 February 1994 until his death when his plane was shot down
on 6 April 1994.
, in what was then the Belgian
-dominated United Nations Trust Territory of Burundi. He entered school in Bujumbura
, but after an abortive Hutu
rebellion in 1972, he and thousands of other ethnic Hutus fled the country.
Ntaryamira eventually received a degree in agriculture
from the National University of Rwanda
in Butare
in 1982. During this time, he became politically active in socialist
movements. He returned to his native country in 1983 to work as an agricultural official. He was a political prisoner
of the regime of Colonel
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza
briefly in 1985.
In August 1986, he became a founding member and economic policy director of the Hutu-dominated Front for Democracy in Burundi
party (FRODEBU). His party gained power after Burundi's first democratic elections in 1993, ending a long history of rule by the Tutsi
minority and the Union for National Progress
(UPRONA). New president, Melchior Ndadaye
, appointed Ntaryamira Minister of Agriculture.
In October 1993, however, Ndadaye and his two top officials were assassinated
sparking parliamentary deadlock and civil war
. Nteryamira was selected president on 5 February 1994 as a compromise: He was Hutu, but considered a moderate in Ndadaye's tradition, while Anatole Kanyenkiko
, a UPRONA figure, was made prime minister.
The respite was brief, as the plane carrying Ntaryamira and Rwanda
n president Juvénal Habyarimana
, a fellow Hutu, was shot down by unknown assailants while landing at the Rwandan capital of Kigali
killing both. The deaths touched off the Rwandan Genocide
.
Two days later, on 8 April, power was passed to Ntaryamira's longtime associate Sylvestre Ntiybantunganya
, president of the National Assembly.
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
from 5 February 1994 until his death when his plane was shot down
Assassination of Habyarimana and Ntaryamira
The assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira on the evening of April 6, 1994, was the catalyst for the Rwandan Genocide. The airplane carrying Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian president Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down as it prepared to land in Kigali, Rwanda....
on 6 April 1994.
Biography
Ntaryamira was born in the Mageyo zone's commune of Mubimbi, Bujumbura Rural ProvinceBujumbura Rural Province
Bujumbura Rural is one of the 17 provinces of Burundi. Former President of Burundi Cyprien Ntaryamira was born here.Bujumbura Rural Province is made up of the following communes: Mugongo-Manga, Isale, Mutimbuzi, Kanyosha, Kabezi, Muhuta, Nyabiraba, Mukike, and Mubimbi.The province surrounds the...
, in what was then the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
-dominated United Nations Trust Territory of Burundi. He entered school in Bujumbura
Bujumbura
-Education:The University of Burundi is located in Bujumbura.Hope Africa University is located in BujumburaUniversité du Lac Tanganyika is located in Bujumbura-External links:**...
, but after an abortive Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
rebellion in 1972, he and thousands of other ethnic Hutus fled the country.
Ntaryamira eventually received a degree in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
from the National University of Rwanda
National University of Rwanda
The National University of Rwanda is the largest university in Rwanda. It is located at in the city of Butare and was established in 1963 by the government in cooperation with the Congregation of the Dominicans from the Province of Quebec.When it was established, the NUR had three divisions The...
in Butare
Butare
Butare is a city in the Southern Province of Rwanda and capital of Huye district. It was the capital of the former Butare Province, Rwanda, that was dissolved on January 1, 2006....
in 1982. During this time, he became politically active in socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
movements. He returned to his native country in 1983 to work as an agricultural official. He was a political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
of the regime of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza is a Burundian politician who was Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Council in Burundi until November 10, 1976, and President from November 10, 1976 to September 3, 1987. While travelling abroad, Bagaza was deposed in a military coup d'état. He was replaced as president by...
briefly in 1985.
In August 1986, he became a founding member and economic policy director of the Hutu-dominated Front for Democracy in Burundi
Front for Democracy in Burundi
The Front for Democracy in Burundi is a progressive political party in Burundi.It was formed by followers of Melchior Ndadaye from the disbanded Burundi Workers' Party in 1986...
party (FRODEBU). His party gained power after Burundi's first democratic elections in 1993, ending a long history of rule by the Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
minority and the Union for National Progress
Union for National Progress
The Union for National Progress is a nationalist political party in Burundi, receiving most of its support from members of the Tutsi ethnic group. It is celebrated for its role in gaining Burundian independence. UPRONA's most famous prime minister and Burundi National Hero is Prince Louis Rwagasore...
(UPRONA). New president, Melchior Ndadaye
Melchior Ndadaye
Melchior Ndadaye was a Burundian intellectual and politician. He was the first democratically elected and first Hutu president of Burundi after winning the landmark 1993 election...
, appointed Ntaryamira Minister of Agriculture.
In October 1993, however, Ndadaye and his two top officials were assassinated
Assassination of Habyarimana and Ntaryamira
The assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira on the evening of April 6, 1994, was the catalyst for the Rwandan Genocide. The airplane carrying Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian president Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down as it prepared to land in Kigali, Rwanda....
sparking parliamentary deadlock and civil war
Burundi Civil War
The Burundi Civil War was an armed conflict lasting from 1993 to 2005. The civil war was the result of long standing ethnic divisions between the Hutu and the Tutsi tribes in Burundi...
. Nteryamira was selected president on 5 February 1994 as a compromise: He was Hutu, but considered a moderate in Ndadaye's tradition, while Anatole Kanyenkiko
Anatole Kanyenkiko
Anatole Kanyenkiko was Prime Minister of Burundi from 7 February 1994 to 22 February 1995. An ethnic Tutsi from Ngozi Province, Kanyenkiko was a member of the Union for National Progress party.-References:...
, a UPRONA figure, was made prime minister.
The respite was brief, as the plane carrying Ntaryamira and Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
n president Juvénal Habyarimana
Juvénal Habyarimana
Juvénal Habyarimana was the third President of the Republic of Rwanda, the post he held longer than any other president to date, from 1973 until 1994. During his 20-year rule he favored his own ethnic group, the Hutus, and supported the Hutu majority in neighboring Burundi against the Tutsi...
, a fellow Hutu, was shot down by unknown assailants while landing at the Rwandan capital of Kigali
Kigali
Kigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
killing both. The deaths touched off the Rwandan Genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
.
Two days later, on 8 April, power was passed to Ntaryamira's longtime associate Sylvestre Ntiybantunganya
Sylvestre Ntiybantunganya
Sylvestre Ntibantunganya is a Burundi politician. He was Speaker of the National Assembly of Burundi from December 1993 to 1 October 1994 and President of Burundi from 6 April 1994 to 25 July 1996 .-Biography:...
, president of the National Assembly.