dominique mbonyumutwa (january 1921 – 26 july 1986) was a rwandan politician who served on an interim basis as the first president of rwanda, from 1 january to 1960 to 26 october 1961, following the abolition of the rwandan monarchy. he took over by overthrowing the monarchy under king kigali v ndahindurwa and declaring rwanda a republic, resulting in the 1961 referendum.