Jean Kambanda

Jean Kambanda (born October 19, 1955) was the prime minister in the caretaker government of Rwanda from the start of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. He is the first and only head of government to plead guilty to genocide, in the first group of such convictions since the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide came into effect in 1951.

Related Topics:
October 19 - 1955 - Prime minister - Caretaker government - Rwanda - 1994 - Rwandan Genocide - Head of government - Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide - 1951

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Kambanda holds a degree in commercial engineering and began his career as a low-level United Popular BPR banker, rising as a technocrat to become the chair of the bank. At the time of the April 1994 crisis he was vice president of the Butare section of the opposition Democratic Republican Movement (MDR).

Related Topics:
Degree - Commercial engineering - United Popular BPR - Technocrat - 1994 - Butare - Democratic Republican Movement

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He was sworn in as prime minister on April 9, 1994, two days after the President and former prime minister, Agathe Uwilingiyimana was assassinated. The opposition MDR had been promised the prime ministerial post in the transitional government established by the Arusha accords, but Kambanda leapfrogged several levels in the party's hierarchy to take the job from the initial choice, Faustin Twagiramungu. He remained in the post for the hundred days of the genocide until July 19, 1994. During the massacre, Kambanda broadcast incitements to violence over the radio, such as: "genocide is justified in the fight against the enemy." After leaving office he fled the country.

Related Topics:
April 9 - 1994 - Agathe Uwilingiyimana - Arusha accords - Faustin Twagiramungu - July 19

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