The last king of Rwanda has died in the US aged 80 years old.
Born Jean-Baptiste Ndahindurwa, King Kigeli V came to power in 1959 but was only king of Rwanda until 1961, when the monarchy was abolished and he was forced into exile.
He eventually settled in the US where he set up a charity helping Rwandan refugees and orphans.
A 2013 profile in Washingtonian magazine found him living off food stamps in subsidised housing.
King Kigeli was the last in a line of monarchs from the minority Tutsi ethnic group, which had dominated Rwandan for many years, but the Belgian former colonial power favoured the majority Hutus and backed a coup.
Rwanda was proclaimed a republic in 1961, and a Hutu, Dominique Mbonyumutwa, was made president.
Tens of thousands of Tutsis were forced into exile including King Kigeli, who lived the rest of his life outside Rwanda.
For three decades the country endured ethnic violence, culminating in the 1994 mass slaughter, in which some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by Hutu extremists.
King Kigeli held onto the hope that he could return to the throne in Rwanda.
A small opposition party argued that the king might be a force of unity in a country still torn by the legacy of the genocide.
As recently as May, the Democratic Green Party had requested the government to allow him to return with the benefits of a head of state, reports AFP news agency.
But without ever returning to Rwanda, King Kigeli died on Sunday morning his website announced.
"He was a devout and dedicated believer and the last anointed African Roman Catholic king to reign over a full country," it said.
It added that "the heir to the Royal throne of Rwanda" will be "announced in good order".
Latest Stories
-
More money, less taxes, and smarter spending: Finance Minister breaks down new economic reforms
23 seconds -
Black Sherif unleashes highly anticipated sophomore album ‘Iron Boy’
7 minutes -
Kwame Agbodza criticises late award of 80km Sampa-Jinijini road contract
9 minutes -
Asiedu Nketiah struggles to gain ground in NDC’s 2028 presidential race – Global InfoAnalytics
10 minutes -
I am excited about Pencils of Promise’s intervention projects – Ja Rule
28 minutes -
Mahama’s job approval hits 66%; signalling strong confidence in him – Global InfoAnalytics survey
32 minutes -
Presidency and Military ranked least perceived corrupt institutions in Ghana now – Global InfoAnalytics
38 minutes -
Police, Immigration, Judiciary ranked top 3 most corrupt institutions in Ghana – Global InfoAnalytics survey
46 minutes -
Bawumia leads NPP race with 48% of Ghanaians approval rate – Global InfoAnalytics
51 minutes -
68% of voters say Akufo-Addo caused NPP defeat – Global Info Analytics
1 hour -
57% of NPP supporters prefer Bawumia to run for 2028 – Global InfoAnalytics
1 hour -
Nigerian pastor acquitted of rape after eight years in South African jail
2 hours -
Alcohol makes male fruit flies more attractive
2 hours -
UK to keep pushing for deal after Trump imposes 10% tariff
2 hours -
World leaders call Trump tariffs ‘wrong’ and ‘unjustified’
3 hours