Dominique Mbonyumutwa (1921 – 1986) was a Rwandan politician who served as the first President of Rwanda from January 28 to October 26, 1961, during a transitional period as the country moved towards independence. Born in 1921 in the Gitarama region of Rwanda, Mbonyumutwa was of Hutu ethnicity, which played a significant role in his political career, given the ethnic tensions between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority in Rwanda.

Mbonyumutwa was initially a school teacher before entering politics. He became involved in the political scene during a time when Rwanda was still a Belgian-administered trust territory, known as Ruanda-Urundi. The Belgians had initially favored the Tutsi monarchy, but by the late 1950s, they began shifting their support towards the Hutu majority. This shift set the stage for the Rwandan Revolution, which ultimately led to the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic.

In November 1959, Dominique Mbonyumutwa became a central figure in the Hutu-led political party PARMEHUTU (Parti du Mouvement de l’Emancipation Hutu), which advocated for Hutu emancipation and was instrumental in the events leading up to the overthrow of the Tutsi monarchy. Mbonyumutwa's political prominence increased significantly following an incident on November 1, 1959, when he was attacked by pro-monarchy Tutsi activists. The attack on Mbonyumutwa sparked widespread violence across the country, marking the beginning of the Rwandan Revolution. This period of turmoil ultimately led to the end of Tutsi dominance in Rwandan politics and the establishment of a Hutu-led government.

As Rwanda transitioned towards independence, Mbonyumutwa was appointed as the head of the provisional government. On January 28, 1961, he was declared the first President of Rwanda by the new republican government, a position he held until October 26 of the same year. His presidency was short-lived, as he was soon replaced by Grégoire Kayibanda, another leading figure in PARMEHUTU and a key architect of Rwanda's independence movement. Kayibanda became Rwanda's first elected president following the country's formal declaration of independence from Belgium on July 1, 1962.

After leaving the presidency, Mbonyumutwa remained active in Rwandan politics but did not hold any significant governmental office again. He continued to be involved in political affairs and was regarded as an important figure in the early days of Rwanda's post-independence history. However, his later years were marked by relative obscurity, and he eventually retired from public life.

Dominique Mbonyumutwa died on July 26, 1986. His legacy is closely associated with the Rwandan Revolution and the establishment of a republic in Rwanda. Despite the controversies and ethnic tensions that surrounded his political career, he is remembered as a key figure in Rwanda's journey towards independence.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominique_Mbonyumutwa