Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA, June 9 (EI) – Burundi’s government in a statement posted on Tuesday via Twitter confirmed that the outgoing president Pierre Nkurunziza died at the age of 55 after suffering a heart attack.
Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza has died of a heart attack, according to the government.
In a statement posted on Twitter on Tuesday, the government announced “with great sorrow to Burundians and the international community” the passing of Nkurunziza, 55.
According to the statement, Nkurunziza had attended a volleyball match on Saturday afternoon and was taken to hospital that evening after falling ill.
Although he appeared to recover on Sunday and spoke to those around him, he suddenly deteriorated on Monday morning. He then suffered a heart attack and despite an immediate resuscitation attempt, doctors were unable to revive him.
Nkurunziza died at a hospital in Karuzi, eastern Burundi.
The government said there would be a period of national mourning for seven days from Tuesday and that flags would be flown at half-mast.
Nkurunziza, who has been Burundi’s president since 2005, was months away from being replaced by political ally Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was declared earlier this month the winner of the recent presidential election. (Source – Al Jazeera)
