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'état.
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.
Background
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.
Events
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.
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.
Le Monde (30 novembre 1966): "Le roi Ntare V est déposé par le capitaine Micombero qui devient président de la République".
Speaking on the radio, Micombero said: Aftermath
The November 1966 coup was the third Burundian coup in 13 months.
Micombero, a Tutsi, ruled the country for the next 10 years, including during the Ikiza, the first of the Burundian genocides, in 1972.
Micombero was eventually ousted during a bloodless coup in 1976.
President Grégoire Kayibanda of Rwanda immediately extended his country's recognition to the new government of Burundi.
Burundi's relations with Rwanda subsequently improved, and diplomatic relations between the two states were resumed.Quarterly Economic Review: Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Issues 1-1971.
Economist Intelligence Unit, (1966), p.
10. References
November coup Burundi Category:Military coups in Burundi Category:1960s coups d'état and coup attempts Category:November 1966 events in Africa
