 Location ofBurundi inCentral Africa | |
| Date | 3 September 1987 |
|---|---|
| Location | Bujumbura,Burundi |
| Type | Military coup |
| Motive | Regime change |
| Target | Presidential Palace, Bujumbura |
| Organised by | Pierre Buyoya |
| Outcome | Coup succeeds
|
| History of Burundi |
|---|
 |
|
Burundi1962–present
|
Current
|
A bloodlessmilitarycoup took place inBurundi on 3 September 1987.Tutsi presidentJean-Baptiste Bagaza was deposed whilst traveling abroad and succeeded by Tutsi MajorPierre Buyoya.[1][2]
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza was appointed president of Burundi following amilitary coup in 1976, that deposedMichel Micombero. As president of theUnion for National Progress (UPRONA) party, he was the sole candidate in the1984 presidential election and was re-elected with 99.6% of the votes.[3] During Bagaza's presidency, there were long-standing tensions over the repression of theRoman Catholic Church, in a country where 65 percent of citizens were practicing Catholics.[4] This was later described by diplomats as a key factor in the coup.[5]
In September 1987, Bagaza travelled to Quebec, Canada, to attend afrancophone summit.[2] The army took over, led by Bagaza's cousin, Major Pierre Buyoya.[6] Hearing of the coup, Bagaza immediately returned to Africa butBujumbura Airport was closed, and in Nairobi, he was refused entrance to Kenya.[5] Following the coup, Bagaza fled to Uganda, and then in 1989, Libya, where he was granted political asylum.[7]
Buyoya formed the Military Committee for National Salvation to take control, suspended the country's constitution and was inaugurated as president on 2 October 1987.[3] Buyoya, a Roman Catholic, said that he would lift measures imposed on the Catholic Church by Bagaza's government.[8] He was succeeded byMelchior Ndadaye following the1993 presidential election, and came to power in Burundi for a second time following amilitary coup in 1996, that oustedSylvestre Ntibantunganya.[9]
 List of years in Burundi (1962–present) | |
|---|---|