Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza, aged 55, has died of a heart attack, the government says.
A government statement says that he was admitted to hospital on Saturday after feeling unwell.
His condition then improved but on Monday he had a cardiac arrest and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Nkurunziza’s wife, Denise Bucumi, was recently airlifted to Nairobi for treatment after contracting the dreaded coronavirus disease.
She was flown to the Aga Khan University Hospital following a government-to-government agreement as Kenya.
The unfortunate turn of events in the small East African country comes at a time when the country held General Elections in which Evariste Ndayishimiye was elected to succeed Nkurunziza.
The deceased was poised to adopt the official title “supreme guide to patriotism” after retiring.
He ruled the country for 15 years.
Additional Reporting by Joel Muinde.
