Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza Succumbs to Cardiac Arrest

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza dies at 55 after a cardiac arrest event, the country’s government reported.

Seven Days of Mourning

Burundi’s President Nkurunziza was admitted to a hospital on Saturday after saying he felt ill shortly after helping out at a volleyball match in Ngozi, northern Burundi, with a seemingly quick recovery on Sunday. Come Monday, however, his condition changed drastically, leading to a cardiac arrest with unsuccessful efforts to save his life, officials said.

Nkurunziza was due to step down in August after the end of his third term and 15 years in power. Previously, the man was part of the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) rebel group, later taking leadership in 2003 and was elected president in August 2005. Nkurunziza took office at the age of 40 after a decade of ethnic conflict, that resulted in roughly 300,000 deaths during that time, and united the country while rebuilding the economy.

His reputation, however, took a hit in 2015, when he announced that he would be running for a third term, causing protests and clashes in the country, a failed coup attempt, and tens of thousands fleeing Burundi. A change in the constitution allowed Nkurunziza to run for another term this year, although he decided to retire.

The country’s winner of the presidential election held in May, Evariste Ndayishimiye, is due to be sworn in later in August. Following Nkurunziza’s death, the government announced seven days of national mourning.