Burundi in shock as outgoing president Nkurunziza dies

Record ID: 1556440

  • Title: Burundi in shock as outgoing president Nkurunziza dies
  • Date: 9th June 2020
  • Summary: GOZI, BURUNDI (FILE - MAY 20, 2020) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** OUTGOING BURUNDI PRESIDENT, PIERRE NKURUNZIZA, ARRIVING AT VOTING CENTRE ON A BICYCLE / NKURUNZIZA SANITISING HIS HANDS VARIOUS OF NKURUNZIZA QUEUING TO VOTE NKURUNZIZA CASTING VOTE BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI (FILE - AUGUST 26, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NKURUNZIZA SIGNING DOCUMENTS AFTER BEING
  • Embargoed: 23rd June 2020 19:05
  • Keywords: Burundi Burundi president Evariste Ndayishimiye Nkurunziza death Pierre Nkurunziza reactions
  • Location: BUJUMBURA, GOZI AND GITEGA, BURUNDI
  • City: BUJUMBURA, GOZI AND GITEGA, BURUNDI
  • Country: Burundi
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA002CHNGK07
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Residents in Burundi's largest city Bujumbura said they were in shock on Tuesday (June 9) following the death of outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza, who had ruled for 15 years.
    Nkurunziza, who was 55, was due to stand down in August, when retired general Evariste Ndayishimiye, who successfully stood for the ruling party in last month's elections, was due to take over.
    Bujumbura residents said the news of the president's death shocked them as he had not yet handed over power, with one adding that the news was too incomprehensible for him to accept.
    Nkurunziza, a fitness enthusiast who increasingly relied on religion and repression to rule the impoverished and unstable central African nation, leaves behind a country dotted with the unmarked graves of his political opponents, an economy in tatters and a question mark over whether infighting over his succession could divide the country's powerful generals and security chiefs.
    Burundi is largely cut off by international donors after the United Nations documented the widespread rape, torture and murder of political opponents by ruling party activists and the state security forces. Independent journalists are largely in exile or in jail.
    (Production: Guy-Clovis, Nazanine Moshiri, Louisa Naks)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register