Grégoire Kayibanda

Grégoire Kayibanda (May 1 1924-December 15 1976) was a Rwandan politician.Kayibanda was born in Tare, Rwanda, and came from the south of the country. He led Rwanda's struggle to become independent from Belgium and for the overthrow of the Tutsi monarchy.

Kayibanda, an ethnic Hutu, founded the Parmehutu party ("Parti du Mouvement de l'Emancipation Hutu"). His successful campaign brought his ethnic group, the majority ethnic group in Rwanda, to power.

Kayibanda served as President of Rwanda from 1962 when he was elected after independence, until July 5 1973, when he was overthrown by his friend, defense minister Major General Juvénal Habyarimana in a military coup. The Habyarimana coup was described as bloodless but it was not. An estimated fifty five people, mostly officials, lawyers or businessmen close to the previous regime, were killed either by poison or by hammer blows after being arrested and thrown into prison. The families of these people were given sums of money to pay for their silence. Kayibanda and his wife were starved to death in a secret location.