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.
eventREF E-0087078Revised
1 June 1962
Burundi gains independence from Belgium
- Updated
- 29 May 2020
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
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: 13 October 2026).
South African History Online, Burundi gains independence from Belgium [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0087078, (accessed 13 October 2026).
"Burundi gains independence from Belgium." South African History Online, 27 June 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0087078. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "Burundi gains independence from Belgium." South African History Online. June 27, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0087078.
Also on 1 June
- 1773Wolraad Woltemade drowns at sea after saving 14 people from a sinking ship
- 1926Cecil Edwin Frans Skotnes is born in East London, Eastern Cape
- 1937Ezrom Kgobokanyo Sebata Legae is born
- 1980SASOL plant under attack
- 1983An inquest into the death of Ernest Dipale finds no-one criminally liable for his death
- 1998Ferdi Barnard is found guilty of killing Webster
- 2001Nkosi Johnson dies
Search events by date
This day in history
What happened on your birthday?
SAHO is free because readers fund it. Donate →