Pierre-Claver Nuwinkware ( Kirundi: Petro Claveri Nuwinkware; died 1972) was a Burundian politician.
Pierre-Claver Nuwinkware was ethnically Hutu. He was educated in Catholic schools. [1]
Nuwinkware was a member of the Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progrès national). [2] In September 1961 Louis Rwagasore became Prime Minister of Burundi and formed a government with Nuwinkware as Minister of Justice. [3] Following Rwagasore's assassination, André Muhirwa became Prime Minister. Politically, Muhirwa worked to prevent Hutus from gaining influence in government. [4] Nevertheless, Nuwinkware remained a loyal member of his cabinet. [1] He signed the promulgation order of the 1962 Constitution of the Kingdom of Burundi along with Mwami Mwambutsa IV and Muhirwa. [5] Mwambutsa attempted to intervene in national politics to temper ethnic and political divides, but Nuwinkware resisted this, garnering the Mwami's ire. [1]
In late February 1963 Hutu political leader Paul Mirerekano was arrested, but Nuwinkware ordered him released on 1 March. [6] The Ministry of Justice also published a pamphlet in tribute to Rwagasore which he reportedly authored. [7] Muhirwa's government collapsed later that year and in June Pierre Ngendandumwe formed a government with Nuwikware as Minister of Social Affairs. Ngendandumwe was dismissed in June 1964 [8] and replaced by Albin Nyamoya, who retained Nuwinkware in the same portfolio. In January 1965 Ngendandumwe formed a new government with Nuwinkware as Minister of Justice, but was shortly thereafter killed. His successor, Joseph Bamina, retained Nuwinkware in the office. [1]
In 1965 Nuwinkware was co-opted into the Senate. Following a failed coup attempt by Hutu soldiers later that year, he was arrested by the government. [1]
Nuwinkware was released from prison in April 1966 but briefly detained again in August. He then found employment at the Official University of Bujumbura, [1] working as its administrative director. During the Ikiza in May 1972 he was arrested by the government [9] for alleged subversion and subsequently executed. [1]