Politician. He served as the President of Burundi on two occasions, both of which came about following successful coups d'état. His first tenure as president was from September 9, 1987 to July 10, 1993, and the second was from July 25, 1996 to April 30, 2003. Born in Rutovu, Bururi Province, in the Belgian colony of Ruanda-Urundi, he served in the Burundian Army, rising to the rank of major. He was accused of orchestrating the 1993 putsch which led to the assassination of then-President Melchior Ndadaye. On October 19, 2020, he was sentenced in absentia to life in prison for this. He contracted COVID-19 while in Mali serving as the leader of an African Union peace mission. He was transferred to Paris for medical treatment but died in route to the hospital.
Politician. He served as the President of Burundi on two occasions, both of which came about following successful coups d'état. His first tenure as president was from September 9, 1987 to July 10, 1993, and the second was from July 25, 1996 to April 30, 2003. Born in Rutovu, Bururi Province, in the Belgian colony of Ruanda-Urundi, he served in the Burundian Army, rising to the rank of major. He was accused of orchestrating the 1993 putsch which led to the assassination of then-President Melchior Ndadaye. On October 19, 2020, he was sentenced in absentia to life in prison for this. He contracted COVID-19 while in Mali serving as the leader of an African Union peace mission. He was transferred to Paris for medical treatment but died in route to the hospital.
Bio by: Mr. C
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