26 Facts About Cyprien Ntaryamira

Cyprien Ntaryamira was a Burundian politician who served as President of Burundi from 5 February 1994 until his death two months later in the context of the Burundian Civil War.

Cyprien Ntaryamira survived the putsch and in January 1994 the National Assembly elected him to succeed Ndadaye as the President of Burundi.

Cyprien Ntaryamira was killed on 6 April 1994 when the plane he was travelling in with Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana was shot down over Kigali.

Cyprien Ntaryamira was born on 6 March 1955 in the Mageyo Zone's commune of Mubimbi, Bujumbura Rural Province, Ruanda-Urundi.

Cyprien Ntaryamira attended primary school in Rushubi before enrolling in the College du Saint-Esprit in Bujumbura in 1968.

Cyprien Ntaryamira reentered school at Rilima College in Kigali Prefecture, studying there from 1973 to 1976.

Cyprien Ntaryamira subsequently attended the National University of Rwanda, earning a bachelor's of science degree and a degree in agriculture engineering in 1976 and 1979, respectively.

Cyprien Ntaryamira married Sylvana Mpabwanayo in 1985 and had three children with her.

Cyprien Ntaryamira returned to Burundi in March 1983 and was hired as an advisor in the Burundian General Directorate of Agricultural Planning.

Cyprien Ntaryamira was viewed as politically moderate with regards to ethnic issues, believing Hutus could work with the Tutsi minority to govern Burundi.

Cyprien Ntaryamira served in its political bureau and was responsible for creating the party's economic policies.

Cyprien Ntaryamira was elected to a seat in the National Assembly, representing the Bujumbura Rural constituency.

The president's wife called Cyprien Ntaryamira to warn him of what was occurring.

The matriarch of the household told the soldiers that Cyprien Ntaryamira had fled down the road, and they quickly departed.

Cyprien Ntaryamira then hid in a foreign embassy for the remainder of the coup attempt.

In contrast, former president Pierre Buyoya alleged that Cyprien Ntaryamira was "imposed" by other FRODEBU figures and some party outsiders to circumvent the rivalry.

Cyprien Ntaryamira's government consisted of a broad coalition including Hutu and Tutsi members from FRODEBU and UPRONA.

Kanyenkiko's selection did not satisfy many UPRONA leaders, and while Cyprien Ntaryamira allowed several other top party figures into his government, he blocked the appointment of those whom he considered responsible for the violence in the capital.

Cyprien Ntaryamira announced that he would appoint a commission to investigate atrocities committed in Bujumbura.

Cyprien Ntaryamira maintained close diplomatic ties with President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire and President Ali Hassan Mwinyi of Tanzania.

Cyprien Ntaryamira was rumoured to have daily phone conversations with Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana.

On 6 April 1994 Cyprien Ntaryamira attended a regional summit in Dar es Salaam called by Mwinyi to discuss maintaining peace in Burundi.

The delegates chastised President Habyarimana for stalling the peace process, and Cyprien Ntaryamira criticised him for heightening local tensions and thereby jeopardising the national security of Burundi.

Once the summit was over, Cyprien Ntaryamira reportedly asked Habyarimana if he could be taken home aboard the Rwandan Dassault Falcon 50 presidential jet, which was faster than his own propeller-driven plane.

Cyprien Ntaryamira's body was heavily mutilated in the crash; his corpse was identified at about 03:00 on 7 April 1994.

Cyprien Ntaryamira's killing in the plane shootdown has generally been overshadowed in public memory by Habyarimana's death and the subsequent Rwandan genocide.