1987 Burundian coup d'état
 Location of Burundi in Central Africa | |
| Date | 3 September 1987 |
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| Location | Bujumbura, Burundi |
| Type | Military coup |
| Motive | Regime change |
| Target | Presidential Palace, Bujumbura |
| Organised by | Pierre Buyoya |
| Outcome | Coup succeeds
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| History of Burundi |
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A bloodless military coup took place in Burundi on 3 September 1987. Tutsi president Jean-Baptiste Bagaza was deposed whilst traveling abroad and succeeded by Tutsi Major Pierre Buyoya.[1][2]
Background
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza was appointed president of Burundi following a military coup in 1976, that deposed Michel Micombero. As president of the Union for National Progress (UPRONA) party, he was the sole candidate in the 1984 presidential election and was re-elected with 99.6% of the votes.[3] During Bagaza's presidency, there were long-standing tensions over the repression of the Roman Catholic Church, in a country where 65% of citizens are practising Catholics.[4] This was later described by diplomats as a key factor in the coup.[5]
Coup and aftermath
In September 1987, Bagaza travelled to Quebec, Canada, to attend a
Buyoya formed the Military Committee for National Salvation to take control, suspended the country's constitution and was inaugurated as president on 2 October 1987.[3] Buyoya, a Roman Catholic, said that he would lift measures imposed on the Catholic Church by Bagaza's government.[8] He was succeeded by Melchior Ndadaye following the 1993 presidential election, and came to power in Burundi for a second time following a military coup in 1996, that ousted Sylvestre Ntibantunganya.[9]
References
- ^ Sheila Rule (1987-09-04). "Burundi's President Is Ousted by Army". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7391-0892-5.
- ^ ISBN 1-85743-254-1.
- ^ Rule, Sheila (24 September 2010), "Burundi Leader Attempts East-West Balance", The New York Times, retrieved 8 June 2010
- ^ a b Harden, Blaine (5 September 1987), "Dismay at Anti-Catholic Measures Said to Have Inspired Burundi Coup", The Washington Post, archived from the original on 4 November 2012, retrieved 8 June 2010
- ISBN 1-85743-183-9.
- ^ "Burundi's Ex-President Granted Asylum in Libya", Spartanburg Herald-Journal, The New York Times Company, 17 January 1989, retrieved 8 June 2010
- ^ Rule, Sheila (27 September 1987), "New Burundi Leader Vows to Lift Curbs on Church", The New York Times, retrieved 8 June 2010
- ISBN 0-7425-3255-0.
 List of years in Burundi (1962–present) | |
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