| Part ofBurundian Civil War | |
 | |
| Date | 25 July 1996 |
|---|---|
| Location | Bujumbura,Burundi |
| Type | Military coup |
| Motive | Regime change |
| Target | Presidential Palace, Bujumbura |
| Organised by | Pierre Buyoya |
| Outcome | Coup succeeds
|
| ||
|---|---|---|
President of Burundi 1987-1993,1996-2003 Government
Later activities  | ||
| History of Burundi |
|---|
 |
|
Burundi1962–present
|
Current
|
The1996 Burundian coup d'état[1] was a militarycoup d'état that took place inBurundi on 25 July 1996. In the midst of theBurundi Civil War, former presidentPierre Buyoya (aTutsi) deposedHutu PresidentSylvestre Ntibantunganya.[2] According toAmnesty International, in the weeks following the coup, more than 6,000 people were killed in the country. This was Buyoya's second successful coup, having overthrownJean-Baptiste Bagaza in1987.[2]
TutsiPierre Buyoya first came to power in Burundi following amilitary coup in September 1987, when he deposedJean-Baptiste Bagaza.[3] Buyoya was president until the country'sfirst democratic presidential election on 27 June 1993, which was won by HutuMelchior Ndadaye. On 21 October, Ndadaye was assassinated, sparking theBurundi Civil War between Hutu and Tutsi groups. Moderate HutuCyprien Ntaryamira became president in February 1994, but both he andRwandan presidentJuvénal Habyarimana were assassinated in April that year, an event that sparked theRwandan genocide. Ntaryamira was succeeded by another Hutu leader,Sylvestre Ntibantunganya.
On 21 July 1996, Hutu rebels attacked a refugee camp in the country and killed more than 300 people.[4] On 23 July, President Ntibantunganya went into hiding at the home ofU.S. ambassadorMorris N. Hughes, Jr.[5] The army took power on 25 July, a move announced over the radio by Defense Minister Firmin Sinzoyiheba. Pierre Buyoya was namedinterim president.[5] He announced the suspension of the constitution, the dissolution of the National Assembly, and the banning of political parties, but declared that he would guarantee Ntibantunganya's safety.[6] The military takeover was condemned by international leaders includingU.S. presidentBill Clinton,United Nations Secretary-GeneralBoutros Boutros-Ghali and the head of theOrganisation of African Unity,Salim Ahmed Salim.[5] It was the fourth such takeover of the Burundian government since the country's independence in 1962, and the second to result in Buyoya taking power.[5]
According toAmnesty International, in the weeks immediately following the coup, more than 6,000 people were killed in the country.[7] Ntibantunganya later entered negotiations with Buyoya, who agreed to provide him with a home in the Bujumbura suburb of Kiriri. He left the United States Embassy on 8 June 1997, saying, "I reaffirm that I shall not yield on the principle for a search for a negotiated solution for all problems that face our country."[8] Buyoya was succeeded as president in 2003 byDomitien Ndayizeye. The civil war continued until 2005.
 List of years in Burundi (1962–present) | |
|---|---|
