Joseph Bamina

Joseph Bamina (15 March 1927 – 15 December 1965) was a politician serving as President of the Senate of Burundi when he was assassinated. He had been prime minister for less than a year, member of the Union for National Progress (French: Union pour le Progrès nationalUPRONA) party. by Tutsi soldiers during a reprisal effort to stop a coup by Hutu officers.

Early life Joseph Bamina was born on 15 March 1927 in Busangana, Urundi

Political career In 1954 Bamina moved to Gitega. as a compromise candidate. Though Mirerekano was made a vice president, he refused to recognise the legitimacy of the new national party committee and began leading a separate wing of the organisation. Bamina initially held the UPRONA presidency alongside his position as the Mwami's chief of staff, until Mwambutsa decided the two roles were incompatible and force him to leave the second office. He later sought election to the office of President of the National Assembly in May 1963, but lost by two votes. In January 1965, the Mwami tapped Pierre Ngendandumwe, a Hutu, to form a new government as prime minister, in part because of his stance against Chinese and communist influence in the country. Surprised by this development, the Casablanca leaders conspired with Rwandan refugees and assassinated Ngendandumwe a few days later. The government arrested several Rwandans as well as leading figures of the Casablanca group, but none were ever convicted for the murder. On 24 January Bamina was made Prime Minister as a compromise between the Casablanca and Monrovia factions. He would hold that position until 30 September 1965. In an attempt to move past the political acrimony, the Mwami dissolved the National Assembly and called for new elections. Bamina met with his ministers for the first time on 26 January to commemorate Ngendandumwe and decide upon a new policy for his government. As prime minister, Bamina cut off relations with communist China on 30 January and ordered the Chinese diplomatic staff out of the country, with government troops surrounding the Chinese embassy. He was elected President of the Senate on 4 September.

Attempted coup and death After the Mwami overruled the senate's selection of a Hutu as prime minister and instead appointed a Tutsi Hutu officers in the army staged a coup attempt on 18 October, attacking the Mwami's palace and wounding the prime minister before being defeated. Martial law was declared and the army and police began arresting suspected dissidents, including Bamina. He was executed on 15 December 1965 in Muramvya Province.