This archive report was first published on 9 June 2020.
On June 8, 2020, Burundi's outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza died of a heart attack at the age of 55, the government announced.
Nkurunziza, a Hutu former rebel leader, became the second president in Burundi to be chosen in democratic elections in 2005, following the end of a brutal civil war.
He was elected in 2005 after the end of a brutal civil war, marking a significant shift in the country's political landscape.
On March 20, 2018, the governing CNDD-FDD party named Nkurunziza the country's "eternal supreme guide", a move that sparked both praise and criticism from various quarters.
Just 10 days prior to Nkurunziza's death, his wife Denise Bucumi Nkurunziza was airlifted to Nairobi for treatment after contracting Covid-19.
According to a source at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Mrs. Nkurunziza was receiving treatment for an underlying condition as well.
The airlift was made possible through a government-to-government agreement using Amref's portable isolation chamber, a cutting-edge medical unit and transportation system designed for optimal safety during patient loading and transport.
On May 20, 2020, Burundians went to the ballot in an election that fielded seven candidates, with Evariste Ndayishimiye emerging as the winner with 68.7 percent of the vote.
The election marked the end of Nkurunziza's 15-year-long rule, which was marred by his attempt to seek a third term, leading to riots and political unrest.
