This archive report was first published on 9 June 2020.
On June 8, 2020, Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza suffered a heart attack at Karusi hospital, which ultimately led to his death.
The government announced the passing of Nkurunziza, 55, in a statement posted on Twitter on June 9, 2020, expressing 'great sorrow to Burundians and the international community.'
As the outgoing president, Nkurunziza had been in power since 2005 and was due to be replaced in August by political ally Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was declared the winner of a May 20 presidential election earlier this month.