Grégoire Kayibanda facts for kids

Grégoire Kayibanda (born May 1, 1924 – died December 15, 1976) was an important Rwandan politician. He was the first elected President of Rwanda, serving from 1962 to 1973.

Kayibanda was from the Hutu ethnic group. He played a key role in the Rwandan Revolution, which led Rwanda to become independent from Belgium. He helped change Rwanda's government from a kingdom ruled by a Tutsi king to a republic led by a president. After Rwanda gained independence in 1962, Kayibanda became its first president. He set up policies that favored the Hutu people and created a one-party system where only his political party, Parmehutu, was allowed. In 1973, he was removed from power in a military takeover led by his defense minister, Juvénal Habyarimana. Kayibanda died three years later.

Early Life and Education

Grégoire Kayibanda was born on May 1, 1924, in a place called Tare, Rwanda. He went to primary school in Tare and later in Kabgayi.

In 1937, Kayibanda was accepted into the Saint Léon Minor Seminary of Kabgayi. After finishing there in 1943, he continued his studies at the Major Seminary of Nyakibanda for four years.

Road to Independence

The PARMEHUTU party was very important in leading Rwanda to become an independent country. For a long time, the Hutu majority felt that the Tutsi minority had too much power.

Hutu leaders in the Catholic Church and Belgian Christians encouraged the Hutu people. The United Nations and the Belgian colonists also played a part in the growing social and political problems. Grégoire Kayibanda, who was Hutu, led the Hutu "emancipation" movement. He started the political party called Parmehutu (which means "Hutu Emancipation Movement Party"). In 1957, he wrote an important document called the "Bahutu Manifesto".

In response, in 1959, some Tutsi people formed the UNAR party. They wanted Rwanda-Urundi to become independent right away, keeping the existing Tutsi kingdom. This group also quickly became armed. Small fights started between the UNAR and PARMEHUTU groups. Kayibanda's efforts were successful, and the Hutu majority gained power in Rwanda for the first time.

Becoming President

In 1961, the Rwandan kingdom was ended. After a short time with Dominique Mbonyumutwa as a temporary leader, Kayibanda was elected president on October 26. Over the next three years, Kayibanda slowly gained more power.

By 1965, his party, Parmehutu, was the only legal political party in Rwanda. In the elections that year, Kayibanda was the only candidate for president. He was re-elected in 1969, again as the only candidate. In both elections, only Parmehutu candidates were chosen for the legislature. The Rwandan constitution from 1962, created by Kayibanda's government, banned communist activities. This was because Belgian settlers wanted Rwanda to reject Communism before granting independence.

Kayibanda's government generally supported Western countries and was against communism. Rwanda had good relationships with the Republic of China (Taiwan) and criticized the People's Republic of China's actions in Africa. Kayibanda's government tried to stay neutral in conflicts like the Arab–Israeli conflict and the Vietnam War.

In 1973, a new plan was announced that would extend the president's term from 4 to 5 years and remove the age limit of 60. President Kayibanda's government was accused of favoring people from his home area, Gitarama, and removing political leaders from the northern parts of the country.

Later Life and Death

On July 5, 1973, Major General Juvénal Habyarimana, who was the defense minister, took over the government in a military coup. This takeover was described as not involving much bloodshed at the time.

After the coup, Kayibanda and his wife were held in a secret location. It was rumored to be a house near Kabgayi. Grégoire Kayibanda died on December 15, 1976, three years after he was overthrown.

See also

In Spanish: Grégoire Kayibanda para niños