Burundian monarchy

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The Burundian monarchy existed from the 1400s until 1972. Like the monarchy in neighbouring Rwanda it was led by Tutsi kings. The last mwami (ruler) of Burundi was King Ntare V, who was either (according to some reports) murdered at the Ibwami royal palace in Gitega, or (according to others) fled to exile in West Germany.

Most members of the royal house live in exile in France today. The current head of the Royal House of Burundi is Prince Godefroid Kamatari. In the 2005 elections, Princess Esther Kamatari ran for president for the Abahuza party ("Party for the Restoration of Monarchy and Dialogue in Burundi"). Supporters argue that a restoration of a constitutional monarchy could help to ease the tensions between the ethnic groups and become a symbol of unity.

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