The Senate organizes a 3rd Conference on the events of 1972

On the occasion of the 49^th anniversary of the events of 1972, the Senate organized, on friday, may 28, 2021, a 3^rd Conference of reflection under the theme: ”To remember and properly  qualify the events of 1972”.

The former President of the Republic, Mr. Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, presented an exposé entitled: “In the service of the strategy: Mysteries and manipulations around the armed bands that attacked the South-West of the country from april 29 to may 5, 1972”.

Mr. Ntibantuganya indicated that till now, the sponsors of the 1972 rebellion are not known.

Nevertheless, he pointed out that on April 29 of that year, President Micombero dismissed all the members of his government and the leaders of the UPRONA party.

During the night of the same date, Mr. Ntibantunganya also reports that there were attacks by men armed with spears and machetes in some localities in the southwest of Burundi. Some authors, such as Pierre Chrétien and Jean François, say that these rebels, called “Murere”, came from Congo (former-Zaire) and Tanzania. These same rebels said that they had been given money to attack Burundi, from april 29 to may 2, 1972.  Their mission was to massacre the Tutsis.

According to Mr. Ntibantunganya, the so-called rebels were allied with Charles Ndizeye (Ntare V) in order to get rid of Micombero government.

Moreover, the “White Book” produced by Micombero’s government does not mention neither the rebellion nor the names of its leaders. Even the Council of War set up during this period does not mention it.

President Micombero claims that it was a group of a few individuals who attacked Burundi and who were at the service of other countries.

Mr. Ntibantunganya indicates, basing on some authors, such as Salvator Kagimbi, that on april 20, 1972, the government of Micombero held a meeting to prepare the massacre of the Hutus. Indeed, it was necessary to sacrifice some Tutsis, by massacring them, in order to find a justification for killing the Hutus.

Ultimately, Mister Ntibantunganya indicates that the 1972 rebellion was just a manipulation by the government of Micombero to find alibis to massacre the Hutus.