Dominique Mbonyumutwa

Dominique Mbonyumutwa (January 1921 – 26 July 1986) was a Rwandan politician.

Dominique Mbonyumutwa
1st President of Rwanda
In office
28 January 1961 – 26 October 1961
Succeeded byGrégoire Kayibanda
Vice President of the Court of Appeals of Rwanda
In office
30 October 1961 – 30 October 1964
Personal details
BornJanuary 1921
Gitarama, Ruanda-Urundi[1]
Died26 July 1986(1986-07-26) (aged 65)
Brussels, Belgium[2]
Political partyMDR-Parmehutu
Spouse(s)Sophie Mbonyumutwa
ProfessionTeacher

On 1 November 1959, while serving as a sous-chef (equivalent to a district mayor today) during the Rwandan monarchy period, Mbonyumutwa was assaulted by a group of monarchists in Byimana in Southern Province. This incident triggered the "social revolution" of November 1959.[3]

On 28 January 1961, during a people's congress which abolished the Rwandan monarchy and proclaimed that Rwanda became a social republic, Mbonyumutwa was elected its first President and ran the country until the referendum of 25 September 1961 requested by the UN, after which he resigned (on 26.10 in the same year) to let Grégoire Kayibanda run the country cumulating the function of Chief of government and President.

Mbonyumutwa exercised the functions of Magistrate first, then Member of Parliament before holding an honorary position as Chancellor of National Orders in the service of the subsequent president Juvenal Habyarimana.[4] until his death on 26 July 1986.

References
  1. Rwanda politique: Documents prיsentיs par F. Nkundabagenzi - Centre de recherche et d'information socio-politiques - Google Books. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2012 – via Google Books.
  2. Keesing's record of world events - Google Books. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2012 – via Google Books.
  3. Guichaoua, André (2015). From War to Genocide: Criminal Politics in Rwanda, 1990–1994. University of Wisconsin Press. p. 7. ISBN 9780299298203.
  4. "Présidence de Dominique Mbonyumutwa". www.dominiquembonyumutwa.info. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
Political offices
Preceded by
King Kigeri V of Rwanda		 President of Rwanda
28 January 1961 – 26 October 1961		 Succeeded by
Grégoire Kayibanda


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