Monday, 8 June 2020, Republic of Burundi: Burundi’s government announced by Twitter that President Pierre Nkurunziza (55) passed away after heart attack.
Nkurunziza died at a hospital in Karuzi, eastern Burundi. As per governmental statement there shall be a period of national mourning for seven days from that Tuesday of his demise, and that flags are being flown at half-mast.
In power since 2005, Nkurunziza was due to be replaced in August by political ally General Évariste Ndayishimiye, who was declared earlier this month the winner of the latest presidential ballot held in May. Hitherto Nkurunziza was the longest serving president since the foundation of the Burundian republic in 1966.
Nkurunziza was chosen to lead the country following a 1993-2005 civil war that killed approximately 300,000 people.
The government already had approved legislation meant to bestow upon Nkurunziza the title of “Paramount Leader” once he stepped down from the presidency.
President-elect Évariste Ndayishimiye is due to take office on 26 August 2020. According to the constitution, the president of the National Assembly, Pascal Nyabenda, becomes acting president till then.
For further information:
Burundian Presidency: http://presidence.gov.bi
