Burundi president dies of ‘cardiac arrest’ at 55

Gitega, Burundi – The Burundi government announced the death of President Pierre Nkurunziza, at age 55.

A government statement announced that the head of state had succumbed to a heart attack.

The statement says that he was admitted to the hospital for a few days after feeling unwell.

His condition then improved, but on Monday, he had a cardiac arrest and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Mr Nkurunziza was due to step down from the presidency in August after fifteen years in power.

The statement reads: “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 Karusi Fiftieth Anniversary Hospital following a cardiac arrest on June 8, 2020,”

Nkurunziza’s death comes just ten days after his wife Denise Bucumi Nkurunziza was airlifted to Nairobi after contracting COVID-19.

President Nkurunziza did not contest in his country’s May elections. That was the first time in 15 years that he did not run for the presidency.
He served three terms, the third of which sparked lengthy unrest in the country.