Valentin Bankumuhari

Valentin Bankumuhari (1927 – 17 December 2016) was a Burundian politician.

Early life
Valentin Bankumuhari was born in 1927 in Mwumba, Ruanda-Urundi. Ethnically, he was Tutsi. He was educated at seminaries in Mugera and Nyakibanda and attended Lovanium University.

Political and government career
Following the end of his university studies, Bankumuhari returned to Burundi and became a political follower of Louis Rwagasore and joined the latter's party, the Union pour le Progrès national (UPRONA). In September 1961, he was elected as an UPRONA candidate to a seat in Urundi's Legislative Assembly representing Ijene and Kabarore with 79 percent of the vote. He chaired the body's foreign relations committee. In February 1962, he served as part of a Burundian delegation sent to the United Nations Headquarters to finalise the terms of Burundi's independence. In January 1965, he was arrested on suspicion that he was a co-conspirator in the assassination of Prime Minister Pierre Ngendandumwe, but was released without being charged. In May, he sought re-election to the Assembly seat, but lost to Parti du Peuple candidate Mbarushimana Philippe. The Assembly subsequently elected him to the Senate representing Ngozi Province.

Later life
After suffering from poor health for several years, Bankumuhari died on 17 December 2016. He was buried on 26 December at Mpanda Cemetery.