Pierre Buyoya

About

Burundian army officer who served two terms as President of Burundi from 1987-1993, and from 1996-2003. He is the second-longest serving president in Burundian history. In 1987, he led a military coup d'état to overthrow his predecessor and seize power. In 1992, he established a multi-party system and non-ethnic government. 

Before Fame

He was born in Rutovu, Bururi Province in Belgian-administered Ruanda-Urundi. He obtained his primary education from a Catholic mission, and later the Ecole moyenne pédagogique. In 1967, he enlisted in the Burundian Army and studied at the Royal Military Academy in Belgium. He also attended college in France and Germany. 

Trivia

In the 1993 election he was defeated by Melchior Ndadaye, but when the latter was assassinated in 1996, Buyoya returned to his former position. Following the Burundian Civil War, he became a senator for life. In November of 2020 he was sentenced to life in prison for his involvement with the assassination of Ndadaye. Two months later, he passed away from Covid-19. 

Family Life

His father, Rurikumunwa, was ethnically a Tutsi-Hima of the Batyaba clan. In 1978 he married Sophie Ntaraka and the couple had 4 children together. 

Associated With

Pierre Nkurunziza also served as President of Burundi.