Grégoire Kayibanda

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Grégoire Kayibanda (born May 1, 1924 in Tare, Rwanda , † December 15, 1976 , in an unknown location) was a Rwandan politician. Between 1961 and 1973 he was president of the country.

Kayibanda came from the south of the country. He was one of the leaders in the Rwandan struggle for independence from Belgium . He himself belonged to the Hutu ethnic group and led this population group to power in the state after gaining independence.

Kayibanda assumed the office of President of Rwanda on October 26, 1961 and led the country to independence on July 1, 1962. He was the head of the state until his overthrow on July 5, 1973. His successor after a military coup was his cousin, Defense Minister Major General Juvénal Habyarimana . Kayibanda and his wife were starved to death in a secret location.