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Burundi commemorates 55th assassination anniversary of country's independence hero

Xinhua, October 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

Burundian citizens Thursday commemorated the 55th anniversary of the assassination of Burundi's Independence Hero Prince Louis Rwagasore, with a call to consolidate the east African country's independence gains.

Ceremonies marking the day took place in all the country's districts and in the Burundian capital Bujumbura where Burundian top leaders and diplomats accredited to Burundi attended the ceremonies.

The country's top leaders including Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza, his two deputies and heads of both chambers of the Burundian parliament attended a church service at Regina Mundi Cathedral in the Burundian capital Bujumbura.

In a homily, Monsignor Evariste Ngoyagoye, archbishop of Bujumbura, said "the 55th anniversary of the assassination of Rwagasore should be an opportunity to avoid crimes of the past."

After the mass, the Burundian president, royal families, diplomats accredited in Burundi and leaders of political parties laid flowers on Prince Louis Rwagasore's mausoleum at Vugizo hill in Kiriri residential area.

Meanwhile, Rwagasore's daughter said real independence has not yet been achieved.

"Burundi has not yet reached real independence in terms of economy and justice. Burundians, especially members of the UPRONA (Rwagasore's party) should abide by the heritage left by my father in an effort to consolidate the country's independence," she said.

Burundi's independence hero Prince Louis Rwagasore was the son of King Mwambutsa IV Bangiricenge.

He briefly attended university studies in Belgium, but left his studies to spearhead Burundi's anti-colonial movement. Rwagasore founded a series of cooperatives to encourage the country's economic independence, but were quickly banned by the Belgian colonial rule in 1958.

He was assassinated on Oct. 13, 1961 after the victory of his Party, the Union for National Progress (UPRONA), in the country's first-ever legislative elections held on Sept. 18, 1961.

Burundi later grabbed independence from the Belgian colonial rule on July 1, 1962. Endit