This archive report was first published on 9 June 2020.
On June 9, 2020, the government of Burundi announced the unexpected death of President Pierre Nkurunziza, who had been hospitalized over the weekend.
According to a statement from the Burundian presidency, Nkurunziza's health 'abruptly changed' on June 8, 2020, and he died of heart failure.
President Nkurunziza, an evangelical who believed he was chosen by God to rule the East African nation, had come to power in 2005 after being selected by parliament.
His presidency was marked by controversy, particularly his successful bid for a third term in 2015, which plunged the country into crisis.
The violence that followed left at least 1,200 people dead, displaced hundreds of thousands, and led to a sustained crackdown on the opposition and media.
Just days before his death, Nkurunziza's hand-picked successor, Evariste Ndayishimiye, had secured a seven-year term as president in elections held on May 20, 2020.
The country will observe seven days of mourning beginning June 9, 2020.
