“He Became Burundi’s Prime Minister at 29, But Was Assassinated While Having Lunch Just Two Weeks After Taking Office”
Prince Louis Rwagasore became Burundi’s prime minister at the age of 29, but he was assassinated on October 13, 1961, just 15 days after taking office.
Burundi had been a monarchy for centuries before coming under Belgian colonial rule.
Prince Louis Rwagasore was born on January 10, 1932, as the eldest son of King Mwambutsa IV, making him the crown prince. However, instead of relying on his royal position, he entered politics to fight for his country’s independence.
In 1958, he founded the Union for National Progress (UPRONA), a political party dedicated to ending Belgian colonial rule. Rwagasore wanted to transform Burundi into an independent, democratic constitutional monarchy where his father would remain head of state while an elected government ran the country.
In September 1961, UPRONA won a landslide victory in elections supervised by the United Nations, securing 58 of the 64 seats in the National Assembly. The party defeated its main rival, the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), which had the support of the Belgian colonial administration.
On September 28, 1961, Rwagasore was appointed prime minister. At just 29, he was preparing to lead Burundi towards independence. However, his victory angered the Belgian colonial elite, who viewed him as a radical African nationalist and feared he would become a “Burundian Patrice Lumumba.”
On October 13, 1961, less than three weeks after taking office, Rwagasore was assassinated while having lunch on the terrace of the Hotel Tanganyika in Bujumbura. He was shot in the neck by Jean Kageorgis, a Greek national who was later tried, sentenced to death, and executed on June 30, 1962.
On July 1, 1962, Burundi gained independence as a constitutional monarchy, with King Mwambutsa IV as head of state. However, Rwagasore was no longer alive to guide the country through independence.
In November 1966, a military coup led by Captain Michel Micombero abolished the monarchy and established a republic, with Micombero becoming president.- Victor adundo