- The Government of Burundi has reported that the outgoing President is dead
- Reports indicate that the President has died after suffering heart attack
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has died of heart failure, the government said Tuesday.
President Nkurunziza is reported to have died of a heart attack.
In a statement on their twitter page, the Government of Burundi announced: “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.” He was 55.
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
The outgoing president died at Karusi hospital after suffering a heart attack on June 8, the statement added.
In power since 2005, Nkurunziza was due to be replaced in August by political ally Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was declared earlier this month the winner of a May 20 presidential election.
Evariste was picked by the governing CNDD-FDD party to succeed President Nkurunziza, whose controversial decision to seek a third term in the last election in 2015 sparked mass unrest, violence and an opposition boycott.
The #EAC has received with utter shock and sadness the news of the untimely and tragic demise of H.E Pierre Nkurunziza, President of the Republic of #Burundi and Member of the Summit of the #EAC Heads of State. Our prayers go to the family, Government & the People of #Burundi pic.twitter.com/oCze4nmqhs
— East African Community (@jumuiya) June 9, 2020
