Thousands of Burundians gathered along roads leading to Gitega on Friday as the body of former president Pierre Nkurunziza was transported for a state funeral, marking the end of a 15-year leadership marked by political turbulence.
Nkurunziza, who died at 55, was officially reported to have succumbed to heart failure, but questions linger over his health. His wife, Denise Bucumi Nkurunziza, had recently been treated in Nairobi for coronavirus, fueling speculation about potential exposure.
The funeral began with an intimate tribute at Karuzi Hospital, where Nkurunziza passed away, attended by family and close associates. His successor, Evariste Ndayishimiye, who won an election weeks prior, faced a nation grappling with the legacy of Nkurunziza's rule.
A national holiday was declared for the funeral, with citizens in white uniforms lining streets to pay respects. The ceremony in Gitega's stadium drew crowds from across the country, culminating in burial at a newly constructed monument in the city.
Nkurunziza's tenure, characterized by a religiously driven leadership style, left Burundi isolated and destabilized. His 2015 bid for a third term triggered violent protests and a failed coup, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and mass displacement. International observers have documented severe human rights abuses during this period, including extrajudicial killings and systematic repression.
