Burundi gains independence from Belgium

Date: 1 Jun 1962
Updated: 29 May 2020

Burundi, a country located east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) gained its independence on 01 July 1962. Formerly part of German East Africa, Burundi gained its independence under the leadership of Mwami Mwambutsa IV, a Tutsi. In 1965, a Hutu rebellion broke out, leading to brutal Tutsi retaliations. Subsequently, Mwambutsa was deposed by his son, Ntaré V, in 1966. Less than a year after he toppled his father Ntaré was overthrown in a military coup by Premier Michel Micombero, also a Tutsi.

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How we know this

01Fact Monster,‘Burundi’, [online], available at www.factomonster.com (Accessed: 28 May 2012)
02The Atlantic Online, (1964), ‘The Atlantic Report: Rwanda’, [online], available at www.theatlantic.com(Accessed: 28 May 2012)
03Boddy-Evans A. (2012) ‘This Day In African History’, from About African History, 01 July, [online], available at www.africanhistory.about.com(Accessed: 28 May 2012)
04Central Intelligence Agency, (2012), ‘Africa: Burundi’, 23 April, [online], available at www.cia.gov(Accessed: 28 May 2012)

Last updated · 29 May 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, June 27). Burundi gains independence from Belgium. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0087078

South African History Online (2012) 'Burundi gains independence from Belgium', South African History Online, 27 June. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0087078 (Accessed: 24 July 2026).

South African History Online, Burundi gains independence from Belgium [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0087078, (accessed 24 July 2026).

"Burundi gains independence from Belgium." South African History Online, 27 June 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0087078. Accessed 24 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Burundi gains independence from Belgium." South African History Online. June 27, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0087078.