# Théodore Sindikubwabo

_Rwandan politician interine (1928-1998)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/theodore-sindikubwabo
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Théodore Sindikubwabo (1928 – March 1998) was a Rwandan politician who was the interim President of Rwanda during the Rwandan genocide, from 8 April to 19 July 1994. Prior to that, he was President of the Rwandan legislature National Development Council from 1988–1994.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1928 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q888967#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Butare ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q888967#P19))
- **Died:** March 1998 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q888967#P570))
- **Place of death:** Bukavu ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q888967#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Rwanda ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q888967#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; minister ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q888967#P106))
- **Political party:** National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q888967#P102))
- **Education:** National University of Rwanda ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q888967#P69))
- **Positions held:** President of Rwanda (8 April 1994 – 19 July 1994) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q888967#P39))

## About

Sindikubwabo was born in Zivu, Shyanda village, in the town of Butare, formerly called Astrida in Rwanda-Urundi Territory, and currently the southern province of Rwanda.  Sindikubwabo was educated as a physician and was Minister of Health in the administration of President Kayibanda. Following the takeover by Juvénal Habyarimana, Sindikubwabo became a practising pediatrician in Kigali Central Hospital. He later returned to politics as a deputy in parliament.

Immediately following the assassinations of Habyarimana on 6 April 1994 and Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana on 7 April, Sindikubwabo was installed as interim President by the Crisis Committee controlled by Colonel Théoneste Bagosora, and he was the head of state during the genocide. On 19 April 1994, Sindikubwabo made a now-infamous speech at the ceremony appointing a new Préfet (Governor) of Butare that was broadcast on national radio, in which he insulted those who were not "working", a euphemism for killing Tutsis, and told them to "get out of the way and let us work".  On 29 April, he returned to Butare and told the populace that he was there to supervise the killing of Tutsis. On 18 May, whilst on a visit to Kibuye Prefecture, he congratulated the people on how well they had done their "work".

Taking advantage of his medical knowledge, he advised the military to cut a certain vein on the jugular to cause certain death.

Following the invasion of the Rwandan Patriotic Front that took control of the country and ended the genocide, Sindikubwabo fled to Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), where he lived in exile in Bukavu. In…

## Questions

**When was Théodore Sindikubwabo born?**  
Théodore Sindikubwabo was born on 1928 in Butare.

**What positions has Théodore Sindikubwabo held?**  
Positions held by Théodore Sindikubwabo include: President of Rwanda (1994–1994).

**Where did Théodore Sindikubwabo study?**  
Théodore Sindikubwabo was educated at National University of Rwanda.

## Related

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

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Théodore Sindikubwabo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%A9odore_Sindikubwabo) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q888967](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q888967) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Théodore Sindikubwabo, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0).

## Cite this page

"Théodore Sindikubwabo". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/theodore-sindikubwabo. Retrieved 6 November 2026.