Kigeli V Ndahindurwa

Kigeli V Ndahindurwa
Kigeli V shortly before his death, at the National Liberal Club in London
Mwami of Rwanda
Reign28 July 1959 – 28 January 1961
PredecessorMutara III Rudahigwa
SuccessorYuhi VI (in pretense)
Born(1936-06-29)29 June 1936
Kamembe, Ruanda-Urundi
Died16 October 2016(2016-10-16) (aged 80)
Washington D.C., U.S.[1]
Burial15 January 2017
Nyanza District, Rwanda[2]
ClanAbanyiginya[3]
FatherYuhi V Musinga
MotherMukashema Bernadette[4]
ReligionCatholicism

Kigeli V Ndahindurwa (born Jean-Baptiste Ndahindurwa; 29 June 1936 – 16 October 2016) was the last ruling King (Mwami) of Rwanda, from 28 July 1959 until the end of the UN-mandate with Belgian administration and the declaration of an independent Republic of Rwanda 1 July 1962. On 25 September 1961, a referendum voted for the abolition of the Rwandan monarchy following the Rwandan Revolution.

After a brief period of moveabouts after leaving Rwanda, the titular King lived in exile during the final part of his life in the town of Oakton, Virginia, United States. In exile, he was known for heading the King Kigeli V Foundation, an organisation promoting humanitarian work for Rwandan refugees. He was also notable for his activities in maintaining the dynastic, cultural heritage of his formerly reigning royal house, including noble titles, dynastic orders of chivalry and other distinctions.

After the king's death, a successor was said to be shortly revealed. In January 2017, it was announced that Yuhi VI would succeed him. Yuhi VI is the nephew of both the late King Kigeli V and the previous King Mutara III, as well as a grandson of King Yuhi V.

  1. ^ "Kigeli V Ndahindurwa, Rwandan king without a crown, dies at 80". The Washington Post. 18 October 2016.
  2. ^ www.dw.com
  3. ^ "Rwanda: Clan of the dynasty Abanyiginya". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 31 October 2002.
  4. ^ "Genealogy". Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2017.