Burundi observes Rwagasore Day

Today Burundi observes Rwagasore Day, commemorating the death of an emblematic figure of the anti-colonial struggle, founding leader, and one of Africa’s most respected nationalists, Prince Louis Rwagasore who died today in 1961, aged just 29.

Son of King Mwambutsa IV Bangiricenge, Prince Rwagasore was a respected Burundian national and independence hero, undoubtedly an iconic figure of the anti-colonial struggle.

A fervent nationalist, Rwagasore was a unifying force who fought against ethnic divisions in Burundi, and he is one of the first and best-known Burundian nationalist leaders. He campaigned and led an anti-colonial movement fighting for independence and founded several African cooperatives to economically empower and encourage economic independence but these initiatives were banned by Belgian authorities.

Prince Rwagasore was at the forefront of the formation of the Union for National Progress (UPRONA), a nationalist political movement,  which fought for independence between 1958 and 1961.

He was put under house arrest for his role in the anti-colonial movement his party convincingly won the legislative elections held in 1961 and Prince Rwagasore was declared Prime Minister as the country prepared for independence.

Rwagasore was assassinated 13 October 1961 before he could see his country achieve independence from Belgium. The nationalist was assassinated just nine months before independence.

Today is a public holiday in Burundi and the country commemorates the legacies of Rwagasore, who is in the same league with other African freedom fighters and revolutionaries such as  Amilcar Cabral, Patrice Lumumba, Thomas Sankara and Samora Machel.

We remember Prince Rwagasore, and pay homage to this African hero.