Louis Rwagasore (1932–1961) served as Prime Minister of Burundi from 28 September 1961 until his assassination two weeks later. Born in Ruanda-Urundi, a Belgian-administered territory, Rwagasore attended university in Belgium. After he returned to Burundi in the mid-1950s he founded a series of cooperatives to economically empower Burundians. He then became a leading figure of a nationalist political party, the Union for National Progress (UPRONA). He pushed for national independence and unity, and the institution of a constitutional monarchy. The Belgian administration placed Rwagasore under house arrest in 1960 during municipal elections. International pressure led the administration to back down, and the following year UPRONA won an overwhelming majority in the legislative elections. As a result, Rwagasore became the prime minister, but was soon assassinated at the direction of leaders of a rival political party with the probable support of the Belgian Resident. Well-known in Burundi, Rwagasore remains relatively unknown internationally.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Rwagasore
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1853:
Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata premiered at La Fenice in Venice, but the performance was considered so bad that it caused him to revise portions of the opera. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_traviata
1933:
The Nazi Party took the first step in the Gleichschaltung process by passing the Enabling Act, giving the government the right to make laws without the involvement of the Reichstag. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleichschaltung
1964:
In a radio broadcast, Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad announced that American boxer Cassius Clay would change his name to Muhammad Ali (pictured). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali
1987:
The ferry Herald of Free Enterprise capsized while leaving the harbour of Zeebrugge, Belgium, killing 193 people on board. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Herald_of_Free_Enterprise
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
periodic table: (chemistry) A tabular chart of the chemical elements according to their atomic numbers so that elements with similar properties are in the same group (column). https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/periodic_table
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
So-called humanitarian corridors or other measures aimed at providing respite to those affected by conflict must be well planned and implemented with the agreement of the parties to the conflict. Regardless of whether humanitarian corridors are implemented in the coming days, parties must continue to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure under international humanitarian law both for those who choose to leave and those who remain. --International Committee of the Red Cross https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/International_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Movement