1. Sylvie Kinigi is a Burundian politician and economist who served as prime minister of Burundi from 10 July 1993 to 7 February 1994, and acting president from November 1993 to 5 February 1994, making her the second African woman to serve as a president.
Politically, Kinigi was closely affiliated with the Union pour le Progres national, Burundi's only legal political party at the time, and was an active member of the Union des Femmes Burundaises, a subgroup of UPRONA, serving as a member of its central committee by 1987.
In 1990 Sylvie Kinigi was hired by the Bank of the Republic of Burundi to direct its department of research and statistics, and the following year she was placed in charge of Burundi's structural adjustment program.
Sylvie Kinigi wished to pursue economic development while she was prime minister, but thought that this could not be achieved until ethnic tensions between Tutsis and Hutus were reduced.
Sylvie Kinigi joined her surviving ministers in the French embassy until she could return to her residence under French military guard as the coup failed.
Sylvie Kinigi resigned when he took office in 1994 and assumed an executive position at the Banque Commerciale du Burundi.
Sylvie Kinigi then held several international positions before returning to Burundi in 2008 and becoming an independent economic consultant.
Sylvie Kinigi Ntigashira was born on 24 November 1953 in Mugoyi, Ruanda-Urundi.
Sylvie Kinigi's father was a merchant, while her mother farmed and maintained their home.
Sylvie Kinigi was given a primary and secondary education by nuns in the Ijenda parish.
Sylvie Kinigi then studied at the University of Burundi under the Faculty of Economic Sciences, graduating in 1979 with a degree in banking and credit.
In 1973, Ntigashira married a Burundian academic, Firmin Sylvie Kinigi, who had taught her in school, and had four or five children with him.
Sylvie Kinigi's husband supported her desire to further her education and career and the family hired a maid to take care of their house and children.
Sylvie Kinigi believed that democracy was introduced too rapidly in Burundi without proper preparation, leading to political organising along ethnic lines and the heightening of ethnic tensions.
Politically, Sylvie Kinigi was closely affiliated with the Union pour le Progres national, Burundi's only legal political party, and was an active member of the Union des Femmes Burundaises, a subgroup of UPRONA, serving as a member of its central committee by 1987.
In 1990 Sylvie Kinigi was hired by the Bank of the Republic of Burundi to direct its department of research and statistics, while teaching courses at the University of Burundi.
Sylvie Kinigi reportedly considered the offer for some time, but eventually decided to accept it, reasoning that she was not more politically inexperienced than the army officers which had previously ruled the country.
Sylvie Kinigi was an acquaintance of Leonard Nyangoma and Cyprien Ntaryamira, two FRODEBU politicians who Ndadaye wanted to become ministers in the new government.
FRODEBU hardliners were angered by Sylvie Kinigi's appointment, seeing her assumption of the premiership to be a betrayal by Ndadaye.
Sylvie Kinigi wished to pursue economic development while she was prime minister, but thought that this could not be achieved until ethnic tensions were reduced.
Sylvie Kinigi was the highest-ranking civilian official to survive the coup attempt.
Sylvie Kinigi, burdened by the leadership responsibility placed upon her by the political vacuum, sought to enable the selection of a new president.
Sylvie Kinigi was the second woman to serve as president of an African country, after Carmen Pereira of Guinea-Bissau, who held the office in an interim fashion.
Sylvie Kinigi retained a significant amount of respect among FRODEBU members.
Sylvie Kinigi then held several international positions, including jobs at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, and the office of the UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region in Nairobi, where she served as a political advisor and programme coordinator.
Sylvie Kinigi returned to Burundi in 2008 and became an independent economic consultant.