Sylvie Kinigi

**Sylvie Kinigi** (née Ntigashira; dem born am 24 November 1953) be Burundian politician den economist wey serve as prime minister of Burundi from 10 July 1993 to 7 February 1994, den acting presido from November 1993 to 5 February 1994, wey e make am de second African woman to serve as a presido.

Dem born am to a Tutsi family, she earn a degree for banking insyd from de University of Burundi for 1979 insyd den anoda diploma from de Centre de Formation de la Profession Bancaire for Paris insyd. Politically, dem closely affiliate Kinigi plus de Union pour le Progrès national (UPRONA), Burundi ein only legal political party at de time, den be an active member of de Union des Femmes Burundaises, a subgroup of UPRONA, wey e serve as a member of ein central committee by 1987. For dat capacity insyd, she lobby give legislative changes den government measures to benefit women. For 1990 insyd, de Bank of de Republic of Burundi hire Kinigi to direct ein department of research den statistics, den de following year dem place am in charge of Burundi ein structural adjustment program.

For de summer of 1993 insyd, Burundi host free elections, wey UPRONA ein rival, Front pour la Démocratie au Burundi (FRODEBU) win am. De new FRODEBU Presido of Burundi, Melchior Ndadaye, appoint Kinigi prime minister of Burundi for 10 July top. Kinigi wish to pursue economic development while she be prime minister, but think dat dis dem no fi achieve am until dem reduce ethnic tensions between Tutsis den Hutus. Thus, she declare dat ethnic reconciliation go fi be ein top priority. For 21 October top, Tutsi soldiers for a coup attempt insyd kill Presido Ndadaye den several oda officials, wey e leave am de highest-ranking official alive den de *de facto* head of state of Burundi.

She join ein surviving ministers for de French embassy insyd until she fi return to ein residence under French military guard as de coup failed. Though ein government prove unable to contain de ethnic violence following de coup, she played key role for brokering a political compromise insyd dat allow give de election of Cyprien Ntaryamira as de next presido. She resign wen he take office for 1994 insyd den assume an executive position at de Banque Commerciale du Burundi. She then hold several international positions before e return to Burundi for 2008 insyd den e becam an independent economic consultant.

## Ein early life den education
Dem born Sylvie Ntigashira for 24 November 1953 top for Mugoyi, Ruanda-Urundi insyd (today for Bujumbura Rural Province insyd). Ethnically, she be Tutsi. Ein poppie be a merchant, while ein mommie farm den maintain demma home. De third of six kiddies, dem allow Ntigashira go school while de oldest daughter for de family insyd help demma mommie. Nuns for de Ijenda parish insyd give am a primary den secondary education. She then study at de University of Burundi under de Faculty of Economic Sciences, wey e graduate for 1979 insyd plus a degree for banking den credit insyd. For 1990 insyd, she earn a Diplômes d'études supérieures from de Centre de Formation de la Profession Bancaire for Paris insyd.

For 1973 insyd, Ntigashira marry a Burundian academic, Firmin Kinigi, wey teach am before for school insyd, den get four anaa five kiddies plus am. He be ethnically Hutu. Ein husband support ein desire to further ein education den career den de family hire a maid to take care of demma house den kiddies. He die for either 1992 anaa 1993 insyd.

## Ein career

#### Ein early political den government work
Burundi becam independent from Belgium as Burundi for July 1962 insyd. De country quickly fall under de political domination of Tutsis at de expense of de Hutu majority ethnic group. Kinigi believe dat dem introduce democracy too rapidly for Burundi insyd without proper preparation, wey e lead to political organising along ethnic lines den de heightening of ethnic tensions. Burundi ein government becam controlled by Tutsi military officers, wey rule give approximately 30 years. Politically, dem closely affiliate Kinigi plus de Union pour le Progrès national (UPRONA), Burundi ein only legal political party, den be an active member of de Union des Femmes Burundaises, a subgroup of UPRONA, wey e serve as a member of ein central committee by 1987. For dat capacity insyd, she lobby give legislative changes den government measures to benefit women.

For 1990 insyd, de Bank of de Republic of Burundi hire Kinigi to direct ein department of research den statistics, while e sanso dey teach courses at de University of Burundi. For 1991 insyd, she lef de job wen Presido Pierre Buyoya appoint am Special Consultant for de Office of de Prime Minister insyd, wey e make am responsible give de implementation of Burundi ein structural adjustment program. For dat capacity insyd, she conduct negotiations plus de International Monetary Fund, de World Bank, den foreign donors. Impressed plus ein work, Buyoya subsequently appoint am Permanent Secretary for de Ministry of Economic Planning insyd.        

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