Who was Juvénal Habyarimana? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Nick Name: Kinani

Died At Age: 57

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Agathe Habyarimana

Born Country: Rwanda

Dictators Presidents

Died on: April 6, 1994

place of death: Kigali, Rwanda

Notable Alumni: Kigali Military Academy, Lovanium University

Grouping of People: Black Politician

Cause of Death: Assassination

More Facts

education: Lovanium University, Kigali Military Academy

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1

What role did Juvénal Habyarimana play in Rwandan history?

Juvénal Habyarimana was the President of Rwanda from 1973 until his death in 1994, during which time he oversaw a period of political and social unrest in the country.
2

What were the circumstances surrounding Juvénal Habyarimana's death?

Juvénal Habyarimana was killed in a plane crash on April 6, 1994, which marked the beginning of the Rwandan Genocide.
3

How did Juvénal Habyarimana's death contribute to the Rwandan Genocide?

After Habyarimana's death, extremists within the Hutu government used it as a pretext to launch a genocidal campaign against the Tutsi minority and moderate Hutus, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 800,000 people.
4

Was Juvénal Habyarimana implicated in any human rights abuses during his presidency?

Habyarimana's regime was known for its repression of political opposition and the persecution of Tutsis, contributing to the underlying tensions that led to the Rwandan Genocide.
5

What impact did Juvénal Habyarimana's presidency have on Rwanda's ethnic relations?

Habyarimana's policies exacerbated ethnic tensions between the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority, ultimately culminating in the Rwandan Genocide following his death.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born on March 8, 1937, in Ruanda-Urundi (now in Rwanda) to an aristocratic Hutu family.

He was born on March 8, 1937, in Ruanda-Urundi (now Rwanda) to an aristocratic Hutu family. He studied humanities and mathematics at St. Paul’s College before deciding to pursue medicine at Lovanium University, in the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

After returning home from Congo, he began training for the National Guard in Kigali and entered military school in 1960. During his military training, he distinguished himself as an outstanding cadet and was also trained as a parachutist. He graduated with distinction and became one of the first officers in the National Guard, receiving the rank of second lieutenant in December 1961.

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Career

He became Chief of Staff in the National Guard in 1963, a position he served in for the next two years. He entered government service in 1965, as minister of defense and police chief of staff.

He developed close relations with the President Gregoire Kayibanda who regarded him as a trusted confidant. Impressed with Habyarimana’s work in the army, the president appointed him as a major general in January 1973.

By now Habyarimana had become very ambitious and had set his eyes on the president’s seat. He led a coup in July 1973, and overthrew President Gregoire Kayibanda, accusing him of failing to take adequate steps to end tribal and regional conflicts, thus ousting the ruling party, Parmehutu. Then he assumed office as the President of Rwanda on July 5, 1973.

In 1975, he created the National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development and declared it as the country's only legal party. Rwanda remained under military rule until 1978.

In 1978, he was elected to a five-year term as president; he was the only presidential candidate. The initial years of his presidency were marked by considerable development and economic progress. He was also able to win the favor of both the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups because of his seemingly unbiased policies. But with time the citizens became dissatisfied with his administration.

He was re-elected to the position in 1983 and 1988. Since he was the only candidate, voters had no other options than to re-elect him. However, there was an attempted coup in 1980 in a bid to overthrow him which proved to be unsuccessful.

By this time there was considerable pressure on him from the Western world, which criticized his dictatorial rule. He eventually accepted that some reforms were required in Rwandan politics. Thus he presented a charter for the introduction of a multi-party system.

Rwanda held its first multi-party elections in 1992. The changes in the legislation provided for both a prime minister and a president. However, these changes did nothing to control the rising problems in the country, exacerbated by political tensions between rival tribes.

He retired from military in 1992 and was named president of the power-sharing transitional government established by the 1993 Arusha peace agreement in January 1994 .

Personal Life & Legacy

He was married to Agathe Habyarimana whose family was well-connected to powerful Hutu politicians. His wife was believed to have played a very significant role in his political career. The couple had eight children.

On 6 April 1994 he was flying on an airplane with Burundian president Cyprien Ntaryamira from Dar es Salaam International Airport, Tanzania, to Bujumbura International Airport, Burundi. A surface-to-air missile struck one of the wings of the plane and a second missile hit its tail, causing the plane to erupt into flames mid-air before crashing into the garden of the presidential palace. All the 12 occupants of the plane were killed in the crash.

The assassination of the two African presidents triggered the Rwandan Genocide and the First Congo War, in which an estimated 500,000–1,000,000 Rwandans were killed in what was to become the bloodiest massacre in late 20th century.

Facts About Juvénal Habyarimana

Juvénal Habyarimana was known for his love of music and was a talented accordion player, often entertaining guests with his performances.

Habyarimana had a passion for aviation and held a pilot's license, enjoying flying small planes in his free time.

He was a dedicated family man, known for his close relationship with his wife and children, often spending quality time with them despite his busy schedule.

Habyarimana had a keen interest in agriculture and was actively involved in promoting agricultural development initiatives in Rwanda during his presidency.

Juvénal Habyarimana Biography

You wanted to know

What role did Juvénal Habyarimana play in Rwandan history?

What were the circumstances surrounding Juvénal Habyarimana's death?

How did Juvénal Habyarimana's death contribute to the Rwandan Genocide?

Was Juvénal Habyarimana implicated in any human rights abuses during his presidency?

What impact did Juvénal Habyarimana's presidency have on Rwanda's ethnic relations?