Sports Enthusiast Burundi President Dies Suddenly... Possibility of Death Due to COVID-19 Raised

15 Years in Power, Enkurunziza Dies Before Leaving Office
Government Announces 'Heart Attack'
10 Days Earlier, First Lady Rumored to Have Left Kenya Due to COVID-19

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Pierre Nkurunziza, the President of Burundi who was scheduled to retire in August, suddenly passed away. Although the cause of death is reported as a heart attack, there is speculation that he may have lost his life due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

On the 9th (local time), the Burundi government explained that President Nkurunziza's cause of death was a "heart attack." The government stated that President Nkurunziza, who had attended a volleyball game on the 6th, suddenly collapsed at night and was transported to the hospital. His condition seemed to improve on the 7th but suddenly worsened on the 8th, resulting in death from a heart attack.

The Burundi government said, "We did not expect President Nkurunziza to lose his life," and announced a seven-day funeral period.

The British daily newspaper The Guardian raised the possibility that President Nkurunziza's cause of death might have been COVID-19. It was reported that about 10 days earlier, President Nkurunziza's wife had contracted COVID-19 and traveled to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. However, these reports have not been confirmed.

If President Nkurunziza's cause of death was COVID-19, he would be the first head of state to die from the virus. Previously, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was the first head of state to be infected with COVID-19 but later recovered.

Known as a sports enthusiast and only 55 years old, President Nkurunziza's sudden death raises various suspicions. Having served three consecutive terms since 2005, it was expected that he would maintain influence even after retirement. This is because retired General Evariste Ndayishimiye, whom President Nkurunziza personally designated as his successor, has been elected as the next president.

The Burundi government has maintained daily life, including holding sports events, citing limited spread of COVID-19 within the country. Burundi, with a population of 11 million, has officially reported 83 confirmed COVID-19 cases. This situation is quite different from Africa overall, where 197,000 cases and 5,000 deaths have been reported.

Through spokespeople, President Nkurunziza claimed that unlike other countries, Burundi has suffered less damage from COVID-19 because it has "made a special covenant with God."

Meanwhile, during his 15 years of ruling Burundi, President Nkurunziza suppressed journalists and human rights organizations. In 2015, he broke a peace agreement and ran for a third term, which led to violent conflicts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.