Pierre Nkurunziza

Pierre Nkurunziza   (politician, COVID-19/Premature death)
Born	18 December 1964
Died	8 June 2020 (Age 55)
Cause of death	"heart attack"
Nationality	Burundian
Victim of	premature death
The longest-ruling President of Burundi. Died suddenly in 2020 after expelling the WHO team and refusing to impose restrictions as a response to COVID-19.  President of Burundi In office 26 August 2005 - 8 June 2020 Outgoing President of Burundi who suddenly died after expelling the WHO COVID team from the country, reportedly of a "heart attack".

Pierre Nkurunziza was the longest-ruling President of Burundi. He died suddenly in 2020. In his obituary, Vava Tampa wrote for The Guardian that his "15-year-rule, particularly towards the end, was marked by brutal repression."

Activities

In May 2020 Nkurunziza expelled the WHO team in Burundi, without giving reasons. He had refused to impose restrictions, allowing sporting events and mass political rallies to go ahead.

Connections

Pierre Nkurunziza was a friend of the President of Tanzania, John Magufuli (who died in March 2021) and who was similarly sceptical about the WHO's Covid-19 recommendations and refused to institute a COVID-19 lockdown.

Sudden illness and death

Nkurunziza was suddenly taken seriously ill after attending a volleyball match on the night of Saturday 6 June. Local media reported that "Nkurunziza is in the hospital in Karusi suffering from COVID-19".

"He deteriorated very quickly", and he died on 8 June. The next day he was officially reported to have died of a "heart attack" although MSN noted that he "died of Covid-19, diplomatic sources in Bujumbura and Nairobi confirmed."

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