This archive report was first published on 10 June 2020.
On June 10, 2020, Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza passed away after contracting Covid-19, leaving behind a legacy of service to his country and the Great Lakes Region.
According to reports, President Nkurunziza had attended a volleyball match on Saturday afternoon before falling ill and being taken to hospital that evening.
His wife, Ms Nkurunziza, was airlifted to Nairobi on Thursday morning following a government-to-government agreement, where she is receiving treatment for an underlying condition linked to the coronavirus.
President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya sent a message of condolence and comfort to the people of Burundi, describing President Nkurunziza as an outstanding regional counterpart who served his country with distinction.
President Kenyatta's message read: 'Death has robbed East Africa of a prominent leader whose contribution to the integration and progress of the region will be sorely missed.'
President Nkurunziza died at a hospital in Karuzi, eastern Burundi, after suffering a heart attack despite an immediate resuscitation attempt.
