Valentin Bankumuhari (1927 – 17 December 2016) was a Burundian politician.

Early life

Valentin Bankumuhari was born in 1927 in Mwumba, Ruanda-Urundi.[1] Ethnically, he was Tutsi.[2] He was educated at seminaries in Mugera and Nyakibanda and attended Lovanium University.[1]

Political and government career

Following the end of his university studies, Bankumuhari returned to Burundi and became a political follower of Louis Rwagasore and joined the latter's party, the Union pour le Progrès national (UPRONA).[1] In September 1961, he was elected as an UPRONA candidate to a seat in Urundi's Legislative Assembly representing Ijene and Kabarore with 79 percent of the vote.[3] He chaired the body's foreign relations committee.[2] In February 1962, he served as part of a Burundian delegation sent to the United Nations Headquarters to finalise the terms of Burundi's independence.[1] In January 1965, he was arrested on suspicion that he was a co-conspirator in the assassination of Prime Minister Pierre Ngendandumwe,[2] but was released without being charged.[4] In May, he sought re-election to the Assembly seat, but lost to Parti du Peuple candidate Mbarushimana Philippe.[5] The Assembly subsequently elected him to the Senate representing Ngozi Province.[2]

Later life

After suffering from poor health for several years, Bankumuhari died on 17 December 2016.[1] He was buried on 26 December at Mpanda Cemetery.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Mbazumutima, Abbas (17 December 2016). "Valentin Bankumuhari, le bras droit de Rwagasore s'est éteint". Iwacu (in French). Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Weinstein 1976, p. 78.
  3. ↑ Russell 2019, p. 124.
  4. ↑ Russell 2019, pp. 151, 153.
  5. ↑ Russell 2019, p. 153.
  6. ↑ Hakizimana, Mireille (26 December 2016). "Un hommage national est rendu à Valentin Bankumuhari" (in French). Radio Télévision Nationale du Burundi. Retrieved 30 November 2023.

Works cited

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