The President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza has reportedly died of a heart attack at the age of 55, according to the government.
In a statement the government said he died “at the Karusi Fiftieth Anniversary Hospital following a cardiac arrest on June 8, 2020.”
President Pierre Nkurunziza had been in power since 2005 and was due to step down in August this year.
In 2015 when president Nkurunziza decided to run for a third, five-year term in 2015 it sparked widespread protests and violence.
Over 2,000 people died with several others displaced over the conflict.
He however decided not to seek re-election this year making way for a peaceful presidential election.
URGENT: Le Gouvernement de la République du Burundi annonce avec une très grande tristesse le décès inopiné de Son Excellence Pierre Nkurunziza, Président de la République du Burundi, survenu à l’Hôpital du Cinquantenaire de Karusi suite à un arrêt cardiaque ce 8 juin 2020. pic.twitter.com/PP46kKzAM5
— Burundi Government (@BurundiGov) June 9, 2020
His ruling CNDD-FDD party’s candidate, retired general Evariste Ndayishimiye won the presidential election last month.
Ndayishimiye was to take over from Nkurunziza this August to begin his tenure in office.
His decision to stand down was welcomed by many with the country conferring on him the title of “Supreme Guide of Patriotism” and that came with a lavish send-off perks including a villa worth $530,000.
Burundi is one of the world’s poorest countries and largely depends on donor support.
Source: Africafeeds.com
