Verisoph public archive

Gregoire Kayibanda

1924 – 1976 Rwandan Independence leader, first President of Rwanda

First president of Rwanda who led the Hutu revolution.

Religion
Roman Catholic
Affiliations
PARMEHUTU

Gregoire Kayibanda led the PARMEHUTU party and the 1959 Hutu revolution that overturned Tutsi dominance before independence. He became Rwanda's first president in 1962, presiding over anti-Tutsi violence and waves of refugees. He was overthrown by Habyarimana in 1973 and died under house arrest.