Valentin Bankumuhari

Valentin Bankumuhari was born in 1927 in Mwumba, Ruanda-Urundi.^[1] Ethnically, he was Tutsi.^[2] He was educated at seminaries in Mugera and Nyakibanda and attended Lovanium University.^[1]

Following the end of his university studies, Bankumuhari returned to Burundi and became a political follower of Louis Rwagasore and joined the latter's party, the Union pour le Progrès national (UPRONA).^[1] In September 1961, he was elected as an UPRONA candidate to a seat in Urundi's Legislative Assembly representing Ijene and Kabarore with 79 percent of the vote.^[3] He chaired the body's foreign relations committee.^[2] In February 1962, he served as part of a Burundian delegation sent to the United Nations Headquarters to finalise the terms of Burundi's independence.^[1] In January 1965, he was arrested on suspicion that he was a co-conspirator in the assassination of Prime Minister Pierre Ngendandumwe,^[2] but was released without being charged.^[4] In May, he sought re-election to the Assembly seat, but lost to Parti du Peuple candidate Mbarushimana Philippe.^[5] The Assembly subsequently elected him to the Senate representing Ngozi Province.^[2]