Burundi King Has Leadership

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30653, 20 January 1965, Page 15

Burundi King Has Leadership

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NAIROBI (Kenya), January 19. Burundi police and troops, on alert since Friday’s assassination of the Burundi Prime Minister, Mr Ngendandumwe, yesterday uncovered a big cache of arms in the African quarter of Bujumbura, the capital.

The discovery was made several hours before the state funeral of the 40-year-old Premier, who was shot in the back as he left a hospital where his wife just had a baby. Mr Ngendandumwe is being buried today below the hilltop memorial to Crown Prince Louis Rwagasore, who was himself assassinated in 1961, nine months before the country’s independence, while

serving as Prime Minister. Troops wearing steel helmets and carrying automatic rifles are on duty at key points throughout the city. The King has taken over leadership of the Government and no new Prime Minister has yet been appointed. Bujumbura and the country generally are quiet but Western diplomats fear tension may be building up between the country’s tall Watutsi tribesmen and the stocky, but more numerous, Bahutu. The King is a Watutsi: the Prime Minister was a Bahutu.

The city is buzzing with unconfirmed rumours the Government may close down the large Chinese Embassy which is believed to exert considerable influence over leftist politicians in Burundi.

Several leftists have been arrested, including a former Prime Minister, former chief of cabinet and youth and labour union leaders.