22 Facts About Michel Micombero

Michel Micombero was a Burundian military officer and politician who ruled the country as de facto military dictator for the decade between 1966 and 1976.

Michel Micombero was the last Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Burundi from July to November 1966, and the first President of the country from November 1966 until his overthrow in 1976.

Michel Micombero studied abroad and was given a ministerial portfolio on his return.

Michel Micombero rose to prominence for his role in helping to crush an attempted coup d'etat in October 1965 by ethnic Hutu soldiers against the Tutsi-dominated monarchy.

Michel Micombero led a one-party state which centralised the country's institutions and adopted a neutral stance in the Cold War.

Dissent was repressed and, in 1972, an attempt to challenge Michel Micombero's power led to genocidal violence against the Hutu population in which around 100,000 people, mainly Hutus, were killed.

Michel Micombero went into exile in Somalia, where he died in 1983.

Michel Micombero was born in Rutovu, Bururi Province in Belgian-ruled Ruanda-Urundi on 26 August 1940.

Michel Micombero's parents were peasants of Hima ethnicity, part of the wider Tutsi ethnic group.

Michel Micombero studied at Catholic mission schools in Burundi and, in 1960, joined the military which was being formed ahead of Burundi's planned independence in 1962.

In 1963, Michel Micombero joined the ruling Union for National Progress party which, though dominated by Tutsi, tried to attract Hutu members.

Michel Micombero then abolished the monarchy and proclaimed Burundi a republic with himself as its first President.

Michel Micombero abolished the parliament and instead set up a "National Revolutionary Council".

Michel Micombero's regime combined ideas from the socialist ideology of Tanzania with other doctrines from Joseph-Desire Mobutu's regime in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Michel Micombero became increasingly paranoid after suffering an injury in a road accident in 1967.

Michel Micombero was widely believed to be an alcoholic, and often seen in a "drunken stupor".

The response of the Michel Micombero regime was to launch a campaign of genocidal violence against the Hutu in the region in which at least 100,000 people are thought to have been killed.

Michel Micombero laid the foundation for the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries the same year, along with the governments of Rwanda and Zaire.

Michel Micombero himself was arrested and a second republic was declared under the dictatorship of Bagaza.

Michel Micombero took up residence in Somalia, then ruled by dictator Siad Barre who was a close friend.

Michel Micombero gained a degree in economics from the Somali National University in 1982.

Michel Micombero died of a heart attack at Madina Hospital in Mogadishu in 1983.