Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza dies of a heart attack aged 55

The President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, has died of a heart attack aged 55. 

Burundi’s government announced Nkurunziza’s ‘unexpected’ death with ‘great sadness’ in a statement today. 

Nkurunziza had felt unwell on Saturday and ‘to very great surprise’ his health worsened yesterday, leading to a cardiac arrest from which he died in hospital.   

The head of state was due to leave office in August after  a controversial 15-year term in which he faced allegations of political repression. 

His decision to run for a disputed third term in 2015 plunged the country into violence which left hundreds of people dead. 

Facing allegations of widespread abuses, his government became the first country to leave the International Criminal Court. 

Nkurunziza’s party was confirmed as the winner of May’s election last week, paving the way for the first peaceful transfer of power since independence in 1962.

A WHO official was expelled from the country during the campaign after the agency raised concerns about crowded rallies spreading coronavirus.

More to follow.