Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza is Dead

The government of Burundi has just announced that President Pierre Nkurunziza has passed on.

Pierre Nkurunziza, who has been in power since 2005 was due to be replaced in August by Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was announced the winner of a May 20 presidential election.

In a statement released on the official Twitter page of Burundian government, the 55-year-old suffered a heart attack. He was admitted to hospital on Saturday after feeling unwell, his condition improved but on Monday he had a cardiac arrest and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, officials say.

“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… following heart failure on June 8, 2020,” the post says.

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