Michel Micombero

Michel Micombero (* 1940 in Rutovu; † July 16, 1983 in Somalia) was November 28, 1966 to November 1, 1976, the President of Burundi.

In the years after independence spread increasingly in Burundi anarchy. King Mwambutsa IV replaced the prime minister, after anti - Tutsi forces threatened to leave the same violence exercised as well as in Rwanda. On October 18, 1965 put the Hutu leader Gervais Nyangoma a coup from the king. Soon after, which is mainly made from Hutu police forces under the command Serkwavus Antoine began to kill Tutsi in some parts of the country.

Michel Micombero was a young Army Captain of the Tutsi. In 1965, he had just finished his training in Belgium and was rapidly risen to be defense minister. He united the army, which consisted mostly of Tutsi, behind against the coup and overthrew the regime. A variety of attacks on Hutu throughout the country followed thereupon.

Micombero was born on July 11, 1966 Prime Minister and thus the driving force of the nation, monitored only by King Ntare V. Shortly afterwards, on 28 November, Micombero overthrew the monarchy and declared himself president.

As President Micombero was an advocate of African socialism and received the support of China. He wanted to create law and order and took action against the Hutu.

In 1972 organized Hutu refugees from neighboring countries a rebellion in Burundi. This was put down and answered with organized ethnic violence that claimed at least 150,000 victims among the Hutu. Micombero had the leading role in this genocide, which led to lasting tensions between Hutu and Tutsi - both in Burundi and in neighboring Rwanda.

After these events Micombero slowly fell into corruption and the alcohol. Some sources report that he had even delusions. Four years later he was deposed in a coup by the Deputy Chief of Staff and distant cousin Jean -Baptiste Bagaza.

Micombero went to Somalia into exile, where he died in 1983 of a heart attack.