Outgoing Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza, 55, has died of a heart attack, Burundian government has announced.
Nkurunzia was admitted in hospital in Karusi yesterday after reportedly testing positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) according to some local media outlets. His wife also outgoing first lady, Denise Nkurunziza was airlifted to Aga Khan hospital in Nairobi, Kenya about 10 days ago reportedly after testing positive for COVID-19.
"The Government of the Republic of Burundi announces with great sadness the unexpected death of His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza, President of the Republic of Burundi, at the Hospital of the Fifty Years of Karusi following a cardiac arrest on 8 June 2020." said a statement from the government posted on Twitter.
Born on December 18, 1964, Nkurunziza came to power in 2005 and ruled Burundi with an iron fist, always urging citizens to refer to him as 'supreme leader'. During his reign, an estimated 500,000 Burundians were forced into exile or in neighbouring countries as refugees due to the brutality of his government forces who tolerated no dissent.
His death comes just weeks after Burundi concluded its presidential elections on May 20 following month-long campaigns in which his ruling party candidate, Maj Gen Evariste Ndayishimiye won the vote by 69 per cent and is due to be sworn in later in August this year.