The November coup of 1966 was the last of three coups to take place in Burundi during 1965 and 1966. The previous coups (in October 1965 and July 1966) followed the assassination of the country's Prime Minister, Pierre Ngendandumwe on 15 January 1965, and the country's first parliamentary election in May 1965. The assassinations, attempted coups, contentious elections and ethnic cleansing campaigns combined to make the period immediately following independence a tumultuous one for Burundian society.[3]
On 8 July 1966 Crown Prince Charles Ndizeye announced that he was assuming the role of head of state of Burundi. He suspended the constitution, dismissed Prime Minister Léopold Biha, and asked Captain Michel Micombero to form a new government. On 12 July Micombero's government was installed with himself as prime minister. On 1 September, Ndizeye had himself crowned as Mwami Ntare V.[4] Tension developed between Ntare, who wanted to actively rule as a monarch, and Micombero's government, which had aligned itself to reform and saw little need for an involved king.[5] In September Ntare attempted to dismiss the foreign minister, but Micombero countermanded the order and reassigned the minister to a different portfolio. After Ntare appointed secretaries for defense, gendarmerie, and justice, Micombero had the men arrested and purged the army of the monarch's supporters.[6]
Eventsedit
Michel Micombero, who took power in the coup, pictured as prime minister at the coronation ceremony of Mwami Ntare V two months prior to the coup
In his first move, Micombero announced the dissolution of the royal government and assumed the prerogatives of the head of state. Artémon Simbananiye, who served as Minister of Justice, was appointed Prosecutor General of the Republic.[7] The governors of the provinces were replaced by officers. Before the formation of the new government, the National Revolutionary Committee was established on a temporary basis under the chairmanship of Micombero, which consisted only of officers.[8]
Speaking on the radio, Micombero said:
I ask friendly countries not to interfere in our internal affairs... I want to make it clear that our international obligations will be respected. Our foreign policy remains unchanged. Our bonds of friendship with friendly countries remain intact. Our relations with the neighboring countries of the fraternal republics of Congo-Kinshasa, Tanzania and Rwanda will be improved. Freedom of religion will be guaranteed... I guarantee the safety of all Burundian citizens and all foreigners.[8]
Aftermathedit
There was little overt public response to Micombero's coup, and administration officials noted that rural residents seemed to be in a "stupor" in wake of the takeover.[9] The new regime requested that its local officials report on how the population received its assumption of power. Some farmers feared civil war and refused to tend to their plots while citizens in the commune of Busiga felt that the coup meant the dissolution of the royalist UPRONA and its usurpation by the republican Parti du Peuple.[10]
President Grégoire Kayibanda of Rwanda immediately extended his country's recognition to the new government of Burundi.[11] Burundi's relations with Rwanda subsequently improved, and diplomatic relations between the two states were resumed.[12]
Referencesedit
^"BURUNDI PREMIER SETS UP REPUBLIC; Micombero Asserts He Has Overthrown the King". The New York Times. 1966-11-29. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
^"MICHEL MICOMBERO, 43, DIES; FORMER PRESIDENT OF BURUNDI". The New York Times. 1983-07-18. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
^Tshimba, David-Ngendo (21 January 2016). "2015 as a repeat of 1965 in Burundi: the stubbornness of political history". Thinking Africa. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^Kadende, Rose Marie (1998). Language, Cultural Discourse, and Identity Negotiation: Internet Communication Among Burundians in the Diaspora. Indiana University.
^ ab(in French) Le Monde (30 novembre 1966): "Le roi Ntare V est déposé par le capitaine Micombero qui devient président de la République".
^Louchheim, Donald (5 December 1966). "Watch Kept on Burundi by Rwanda : Little State Hopes for Cooperation With New Regime". The Los Angeles Times. p. 16C.
^Quarterly Economic Review: Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Issues 1-1971. Economist Intelligence Unit, (1966), p. 10.
Works citededit
Lemarchand, René (1970). Rwanda and Burundi. New York: Praeger Publishers. OCLC 254366212.
Russell, Aidan (2019). Politics and Violence in Burundi: The Language of Truth in an Emerging State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-1-108-49934-7.
november, 1966, burundian, coup, état, november, 1966, michel, micombero, burundi, year, prime, minister, ousted, year, king, mwami, burundi, ntare, coup, état, ntare, country, time, coup, leaders, quickly, succeeded, taking, control, micombero, declared, mona. On 28 November 1966 Michel Micombero Burundi s 26 year old Prime Minister ousted the 19 year old king mwami of Burundi Ntare V in a coup d etat Ntare was out of the country at the time and the coup leaders quickly succeeded in taking control Micombero declared an end to the monarchy and the Kingdom of Burundi became a republic with Micombero as its first President 1 2 November 1966 Burundian coup d etatLocation of Burundi in Central AfricaDate28 November 1966LocationBujumbura Kingdom of BurundiTypeMilitary coupMotiveRegime changeTargetRoyal Palace BujumburaOrganised byMichel MicomberoOutcomeCoup succeeds Ntare V is ousted by Prime Minister Michel Micombero Micombero proclaimed a republic with himself as its first PresidentCasualties Contents 1 Background 2 Events 3 Aftermath 4 References 5 Works citedBackground editThe November coup of 1966 was the last of three coups to take place in Burundi during 1965 and 1966 The previous coups in October 1965 and July 1966 followed the assassination of the country s Prime Minister Pierre Ngendandumwe on 15 January 1965 and the country s first parliamentary election in May 1965 The assassinations attempted coups contentious elections and ethnic cleansing campaigns combined to make the period immediately following independence a tumultuous one for Burundian society 3 On 8 July 1966 Crown Prince Charles Ndizeye announced that he was assuming the role of head of state of Burundi He suspended the constitution dismissed Prime Minister Leopold Biha and asked Captain Michel Micombero to form a new government On 12 July Micombero s government was installed with himself as prime minister On 1 September Ndizeye had himself crowned as Mwami Ntare V 4 Tension developed between Ntare who wanted to actively rule as a monarch and Micombero s government which had aligned itself to reform and saw little need for an involved king 5 In September Ntare attempted to dismiss the foreign minister but Micombero countermanded the order and reassigned the minister to a different portfolio After Ntare appointed secretaries for defense gendarmerie and justice Micombero had the men arrested and purged the army of the monarch s supporters 6 Events edit nbsp Michel Micombero who took power in the coup pictured as prime minister at the coronation ceremony of Mwami Ntare V two months prior to the coup In his first move Micombero announced the dissolution of the royal government and assumed the prerogatives of the head of state Artemon Simbananiye who served as Minister of Justice was appointed Prosecutor General of the Republic 7 The governors of the provinces were replaced by officers Before the formation of the new government the National Revolutionary Committee was established on a temporary basis under the chairmanship of Micombero which consisted only of officers 8 Speaking on the radio Micombero said I ask friendly countries not to interfere in our internal affairs I want to make it clear that our international obligations will be respected Our foreign policy remains unchanged Our bonds of friendship with friendly countries remain intact Our relations with the neighboring countries of the fraternal republics of Congo Kinshasa Tanzania and Rwanda will be improved Freedom of religion will be guaranteed I guarantee the safety of all Burundian citizens and all foreigners 8 Aftermath editThere was little overt public response to Micombero s coup and administration officials noted that rural residents seemed to be in a stupor in wake of the takeover 9 The new regime requested that its local officials report on how the population received its assumption of power Some farmers feared civil war and refused to tend to their plots while citizens in the commune of Busiga felt that the coup meant the dissolution of the royalist UPRONA and its usurpation by the republican Parti du Peuple 10 President Gregoire Kayibanda of Rwanda immediately extended his country s recognition to the new government of Burundi 11 Burundi s relations with Rwanda subsequently improved and diplomatic relations between the two states were resumed 12 References edit BURUNDI PREMIER SETS UP REPUBLIC Micombero Asserts He Has Overthrown the King The New York Times 1966 11 29 Retrieved 18 January 2021 MICHEL MICOMBERO 43 DIES FORMER PRESIDENT OF BURUNDI The New York Times 1983 07 18 Retrieved 24 April 2020 Tshimba David Ngendo 21 January 2016 2015 as a repeat of 1965 in Burundi the stubbornness of political history Thinking Africa Retrieved 18 October 2016 Lemarchand 1970 p 428 Lemarchand 1970 p 429 Weinstein 1976 pp 16 17 Kadende Rose Marie 1998 Language Cultural Discourse and Identity Negotiation Internet Communication Among Burundians in the Diaspora Indiana University a b in French Le Monde 30 novembre 1966 Le roi Ntare V est depose par le capitaine Micombero qui devient president de la Republique Russell 2019 pp 158 159 Russell 2019 p 183 Louchheim Donald 5 December 1966 Watch Kept on Burundi by Rwanda Little State Hopes for Cooperation With New Regime The Los Angeles Times p 16C Quarterly Economic Review Congo Rwanda Burundi Issues 1 1971 Economist Intelligence Unit 1966 p 10 Works cited editLemarchand Rene 1970 Rwanda and Burundi New York Praeger Publishers OCLC 254366212 Russell Aidan 2019 Politics and Violence in Burundi The Language of Truth in an Emerging State Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 1 108 49934 7 Weinstein Warren 1976 Historical Dictionary of Burundi Metuchen Scarecrow Press ISBN 9780810809628 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title November 1966 Burundian coup d 27etat amp oldid 1224458609, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
