Bagaz, Jean-Baptiste

Tutsi people. He received a military education in Belgium (1966-1970). Since 1971 he served in the General Staff of the Burundian Army (since 1972 - Deputy Chief). One of the factors of his successful career is the friendship of his family with the then president Michel Michombero . He took part in the Hutu genocide and headed the General Staff after these events.

In November 1976, he made a military coup and became the president of Burundi and the chairman of the supreme authority - the Supreme Revolutionary Council (dissolved in 1979).

After the abolition of the post of prime minister in October 1978, he served as head of government; also the Minister of Defense and the Supreme Commander. Since 1979, Chairman of the Union for National Progress Party. In the elections held in 1984, he was re-elected President of Burundi with an almost unanimous vote (99.6%). After that he organized a military operation, which was directed against the Roman Catholic Church .

In the political sphere, he tried to ignore discrimination against the national majority - the Hutu people, trying to replace this key problem with the solution of social = economic problems. During his reign, the enrollment ratio in primary schools over the ten years (1976-1986) increased from 19 to 85%. Most of Burundi’s infrastructure in the 21st century was also created during this period: roads, power plants, water supply, hospitals and medical centers, schools, coffee, telecommunications, etc.). Coffee production (the main export product) has more than quadrupled. Considering that bank savings play a decisive role in economic development, he introduced a system of compulsory savings in the country. The economic development policy was supported by external donors (World Bank, Western countries, China, Arab states). At the same time, his attempts to unite rural settlements and increase the number of cooperatives were not so successful, faced with the traditional Burundian mentality and traditions.

In foreign policy, he tried to maintain friendly relations with other countries, improving economic trade. However, he had hostile relations with the leaders of neighboring states - Zaire President Mobutu Sese Seko and Rwanda leader Juvenal Habyarimana , establishing good contact with Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni .

During his official visit to Canada (1987) in Burundi, a military coup occurred, as a result of which he was removed from power by Major Pierre Buyoya . After that, the displaced head of state left the country and lived in exile in Uganda, and later moved to Libya, where he lived until 1993.

After returning to his homeland in 1994, he led the Party for National Renaissance (PARENA), which by 1996 had achieved significant influence, mainly in the Tutsi community, before Pierre Buyoya made a second military coup. In 1997, he was arrested on charges of trying to build an arsenal of weapons to overthrow Buyoy.

As a former head of state, he was a lifelong senator.

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