Timeline of Burundi

Chronology

16 events spanning the history of Burundi. BCE/CE dating.

1. 1400

   The Hutu

   The Hutu arrived, probably from the Congo River basin, and imposed their language and customs on the Twa, who are believed to be Burundi’s original inhabitants

2. 1500

   The Tutsi

   The Tutsi, probably migrating from the north, established themselves as feudal rulers. Tutsi kings, or mwamis, became monarchs of distinct kingdoms in Burundi and Rwanda. Their rule was enforced by chiefs and subchiefs, who each ruled an umusozi, a fiefdom consisting of a single hill.

3. 1858

   The Tutsi

   The British explorers Sir Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke are the first Europeans to visit Burundi.

4. 1890

   Count Gustav Aldolf von Götzen

   Austrian explorer Oskar Baumann and German Count Gustav Adolf von Götzen arrive in the 1890s

5. 1900

   German East Africa

   Burundi (then called Urundi) and Rwanda (then called Ruanda) are incorporated into German East Africa

6. 1918

   Territory of Ruanda-Urundi

   After WWI, the area was mandated to Belgium by the League of Nations and became known as the Territory of Ruanda-Urundi.

7. 1945

   United Nations Trust Territory

   After World War II, Urundi becames a United Nations (UN) trust territory.

8. 1962

   Brundi Gains Independence

   At the insistence of the United Nations Trusteeship Council, Urundi is separated from Ruanda-Urundi and is named Burundi. On July 1, 1962 Burundi becomes an independent constitutional monarchy under Mwami Mwambutsa IV. Burundi is admitted to the United Nations in September 1962.

9. 1965

   Mwambutsa refuses to appoint a Hutu Prime Minister

   King Mwambutsa refuses to appoint a Hutu prime minister even though Hutus win a majority in parliamentary elections an attempted coup by Hutu police led by Michel Micombero is brutally suppressed.

10. 1966

    Mwambutsa deposed by his son

    Mwambutsa deposed by his son, Ntare V in July. In November Micombero stages a second coup, this time successfully, and declares himself president.