Politics and Society
Remembering Melchior Ndadaye: Burundi observes Ndadaye Day
Today Burundi observes Ndadaye Day, commemorating the death of an emblematic figure of the country’s democracy, President Melchior Ndadaye assassinated today in 1993, aged just 40. A unifying figure who fought ethnic divisions, Ndadaye was a moderate and he is remembered for charting a conciliatory course for governance, which was cut short after his assassination.
Melchior Ndadaye was a respected African statesman, undoubtedly an emblematic figure of the struggle for democracy, unity and peace. Ndadaye was Burundi’s first democratically elected President and he was also the country’s first Hutu president.
The three presidents who served before Ndadaye, namely: Michel Micombero, Jean-Baptiste Bagaza and Pierre Buyoya came to power through military coups, and the 1993 election marked a watershed moment in the country’s history.
Ndadaye won the presidential elections (he garnered 65 percent of the vote) and his party, the Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU) won the majority of the seats (65 of 81 parliamentary seats).
He was assassinated just three months into his presidency, serving from 10 July 1993 to 21 October 1993.
A relative of assassinated president of Burundian Republic Melchior Ndadaye, holds a photo of him, as a Tutsi soldier looks on, 06 December 1993 in Bujumbara, during his funeral. He was killed in an abortive military coup on 21 October 1993. Photo: ANP/AFP Alexander Joe
A fervent nationalist, Ndadaye was a unifying force who fought against ethnic divisions in the country, and he is one of the best-known Burundian nationalist leaders.
Today Ndadaye is remembered as the founding father of the country’s reconciliatory democracy and remains a symbol of unity and reconciliation.
Burundi commemorates the legacies of Ndadaye, who is in the same league with other African heroes.
