After Burundi attained independence on July, 1, 1962, there was much political instability and the monarchy became the only source of power that both Hutu and Tutsi related to. The mwami at this time, Mwambutsa IV, made sure that there were equal numbers of Hutu and Tutsi representatives in the government from 1963-1965. In January of 1965 the Hutu prime minister was assasinated, though an imminent political crisis was avoided when the Hutu procured a majority of the seats in the parlimentary election in May. Chaos errupted in October, however, after Mwambutsa appointed a Tutsi prince as the prime minister, and a Hutu group tried to overthrow the government. The Tutsi retaliated and most of the Hutu politicians were killed, along with thousands of common Hutu who had supported the attempted coup.

Captain Michel Micombero was appointed by Mwambutsa's son (who succeeded Mwambutsa as mwami) as prime minister in 1966. Micombero declared Burundi a republic, and since the monarchy was destroyed the Tutsi gained more power because Hutu members of government were purged. In April of 1972 the Hutu again attempted to overthrow the government, although this time the Tutsi retaliation was more gruesome. It is believed that 100,000-200,000 Hutu people were killed, 200,000 fled to Zaire, and the Hutu were banned from participating in the armed forces.

Colonel Jean-Babtiste Bagaza took control in November 1976, and attempted to increase democratic action in the government. In 1982, the national assembly was to be elected by voters from the adult population of Burundi, as provided for in the new constitution which was adopted in November of 1981. Under Bagaza in 1984 to 1987, the number of political prisoners rose significantly, and many were subjected to torture. Most of these prisoners consisted of people who were criticizing the government, or who were thought to be part of opposition groups. In September of 1987 Major Pierre Buyoya seized control in a coup d'etat. UPRONA disintegrated and the constitution adopted in 1981 was suspended. The new regime was similar to Bagaza's, and their main problem was with the Hutu demanding more participation in the public life.

After ethnic conflict in August of 1988 which resulted in 20,000 Hutu deaths and 60,000 refugees to Rwanda, Buyoya appointed a Hutu as prime minister, and at this time the council of ministers contained equal numbers of Hutu and Tutsi. Heeding to suggestions by the commission for national unity, Buyoya announced that he was going to deal with issues of discrimination against Hutu, in education, employment and the armed forces. In September of 1991 Buyoya proposed democratization and called for a new constitution including a new form of government, human rights declarations, and regulations requiring parties to accept the charter on national unity. This new constitution became official on March 13, 1992, and presidential and legislative elections were to follow in June of 1993.