Sylvie Kinigi was both Prime Minister and acting President for the nation of Burundi in Southeast Africa. She served the public in these positions concurrently, from 1993 to 1994, following an attempted coup that resulted in death of Melchior Ndadaye, the previous president. This is important, as she not only did hold power at a crucial time of Burundi history, but she was also the first woman to hold both the Prime Minster and Presidential seat. As an armed conflict took place between Burundi’s primary ethnic groups—Hutus and Tutsis—Sylvie Kinigi was determined to support unification. In the following elections in 1994, Cyprien Ntaryamira was appointed president, and Sylvie Kinigi left the world of politics.