# Pasteur Bizimungu

_Rwandan politician, 3rd and former President of Rwanda_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pasteur-bizimungu
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Pasteur Bizimungu (born 30 April 1950) is a Rwandan politician who served as the third President of Rwanda, holding office from 19 July 1994 until 23 March 2000.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** April 1950 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q471882#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Gisenyi Province ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q471882#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Rwanda ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q471882#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q471882#P106))
- **Political party:** Rwandan Patriotic Front; National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (until 1990) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q471882#P102))
- **Education:** University of Strasbourg; National University of Rwanda ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q471882#P69))
- **Positions held:** President of Rwanda (19 July 1994 – 23 March 2000) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q471882#P39))
- **X (Twitter):** PBizimungu ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q471882#P2002))

## About

Bizimungu had previously held several positions under President Juvenal Habyarimana throughout the 1980s. He joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) rebel group against Habyarimana in 1990 following the death of his brother seemingly under the orders of Habyarimana's government. After the RPF's victory in the Rwandan Civil War in 1994 which ended the Rwandan genocide, Bizimungu became the new president of the country with RPF commander Paul Kagame as vice-president and minister of defense, who was seen as the country's de facto leader throughout his presidency. Bizumungu's presidency was marked by the reconstruction of the country in the wake of the civil war and genocide, as well as the country's support for rebel groups in the First Congo War from 1996 to 1997, and the Second Congo War from 1998 to 2003. Following a series of disputes with Kagame, Bizimungu resigned in 2000, whereupon he was succeeded by Kagame. The following year, Bizimungu founded the Party for Democratic Renewal, which was immediately banned by Kagame's new government. In 2004, Bizimungu was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for attempting to form a militia, inciting violence, and embezzlement, but was pardoned three years later by Kagame.

## Questions

**When was Pasteur Bizimungu born?**  
Pasteur Bizimungu was born on April 1950 in Gisenyi Province.

**What positions has Pasteur Bizimungu held?**  
Positions held by Pasteur Bizimungu include: President of Rwanda (1994–2000).

**Where did Pasteur Bizimungu study?**  
Pasteur Bizimungu was educated at University of Strasbourg, National University of Rwanda.

## Related

- [Juvénal Habyarimana](https://diginpl.com/people/juvenal-habyarimana)
- [Grégoire Kayibanda](https://diginpl.com/people/gregoire-kayibanda)
- [Paul Kagame](https://diginpl.com/people/paul-kagame)
- [Théodore Sindikubwabo](https://diginpl.com/people/theodore-sindikubwabo)
- [Dominique Mbonyumutwa](https://diginpl.com/people/dominique-mbonyumutwa)
- [Jean-Paul Akayesu](https://diginpl.com/people/jean-paul-akayesu)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pasteur Bizimungu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasteur_Bizimungu) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q471882](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q471882) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Pasteur Bizimungu 1998 (cropped).jpg by Ralph Alswang / White House Photograph Office (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pasteur_Bizimungu_1998_(cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pasteur Bizimungu, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Pasteur Bizimungu 1998 (cropped).jpg — Ralph Alswang / White House Photograph Office, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pasteur Bizimungu". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pasteur-bizimungu. Retrieved 6 November 2026.