Louis Rwagasore was a Burundian prince and politician, who served as the second prime minister of Burundi for two weeks, from 28 September 1961 until his assassination on 13 October. Born to the Ganwa family of Burundian Mwami (king) Mwambutsa IV in Belgian-administered Ruanda-Urundi in 1932, Rwagasore was educated in Burundian Catholic schools before attending university in Belgium. After he returned to Burundi in the mid-1950s he founded a series of cooperatives to economically empower native Burundians and build up his base of political support. The Belgian administration took over the venture, and as a result of the affair his national profile increased and he became a leading figure of the anti-colonial movement.
Rwagasore's father, Mwambutsa IV, on a visit to Israel in 1962
Ruanda-Urundi Governor Jean-Paul Harroy (right), c. 1968
Belgian Foreign Minister Paul-Henri Spaak, who sent several telegrams to officials in Usumbura inquiring about the role of "Europeans" in Rwagasore's assassination
President Pierre Buyoya, who used Rwagasore as a symbol of national unity
Prime Minister of Burundi
This article lists the prime ministers of Burundi since the formation of the post of Prime Minister of Burundi in 1961 until the present day. The office of Prime Minister was most recently abolished in 1998, and reinstated in 2020 with the appointment of Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni.
Image: Mwambutsa 1962
Image: Pierre Ngendandumwe cropped
Image: Pierre Ngendandumwe cropped
Image: Adrien Sibomana 1991