Gregori Kayibanda Elected as President of the First Republic of Rwanda

On 26 October 1961, Grégoire Kayibanda from the PARMEHUTU party was elected as the first President of the Republic of Rwanda, succeeding Dominique Mbonyumutwa, the provisional president following Rwanda’s independence from Belgium.

Context and Events Leading to the Election:

1. Rwanda’s Independence:
   • Rwanda gained independence from Belgium on 1 July 1962, becoming a republic after a referendum that abolished the monarchy. The monarchy was replaced by a presidential system.
   • The Hutu political parties, including PARMEHUTU (Parti du Mouvement de l’Emancipation Hutu), had been central in the movement for independence and played a key role in the political landscape of the country during this transition.
2. Dominique Mbonyumutwa’s Provisional Presidency:
   • Dominique Mbonyumutwa served as the provisional president following independence. He was a member of the PARMEHUTU party and served as a representative during the transition period between the monarchy and the republic.
   • His role was primarily administrative and transitional as Rwanda worked to establish its first post-independence government.
3. Grégoire Kayibanda’s Rise:
   • Grégoire Kayibanda was a leading figure in the PARMEHUTU party and had been active in the Rwandan independence movement.
   • Kayibanda was a key advocate for the Hutu majority and had strong backing from rural and lower-class Hutus, who had long been marginalized under the Tutsi monarchy and colonial rule.
4. The Election:
   • On 26 October 1961, Grégoire Kayibanda was elected as the first president of the newly established Rwandan Republic after a vote by the National Assembly.
   • His election marked the beginning of the First Republic of Rwanda, which was a one-party state dominated by the PARMEHUTU.
   • The Tutsi minority was excluded from political power during this period, leading to a shift in the country’s political dynamics.
5. Key Political Shifts:
   • Kayibanda’s election marked a transition from monarchy to republic and the consolidation of Hutu power.
   • The political environment of the First Republic was defined by a growing ethnic divide between Hutus and Tutsis, which would later lead to significant political tensions and ethnic violence.
   • The PARMEHUTU party’s dominance during Kayibanda’s presidency resulted in significant discrimination against the Tutsi population, which would become one of the major factors leading to political instability in Rwanda.

Key Points:

• Grégoire Kayibanda was elected president of Rwanda on 26 October 1961, marking the beginning of the First Republic.
• His presidency followed the provisional government led by Dominique Mbonyumutwa and was the result of Hutu political dominance after independence from Belgium.
• Kayibanda’s leadership was heavily influenced by the PARMEHUTU party, which promoted Hutu empowerment and led to the marginalization of the Tutsi population.
• Kayibanda’s presidency and policies set the stage for the ethnic tensions that would culminate in the Rwandan Civil War and eventually the 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi.