Burundi’s President, Pierre Nkurunziza, has died at the age of 55.
According to a government statement on Twitter, he died after suffering a cardiac arrest on Monday.
The statement said that he passed away at the Karusi Hospital in Burundi.
“The Government of the Republic of Burundi announces with great sadness the unexpected death of His Excellency Pierre Nkurunzuza, President of the Republic of Burundi, at the Karusi Fiftieth Anniversary Hospital following a cardiac arrest on June 8, 2020,” a tweet from the government read.
It said the country would observe seven days of mourning beginning Tuesday.
Nkurunziza assumed power on August 26, 2005 and was reelected in 2010 with more than 91% of the vote after an opposition boycott.
He was due to step down from the presidency in August after 15 years in power.
The late Burundi president was to be replaced by political ally, Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was declared earlier this month the winner of a May 20 presidential election.
(C) Control TV 2020.
