Audio By Carbonatix
Former President of Burundi, Pierre Buyoya has died aged 71, his cousin and a diplomatic source have confirmed to the BBC.
The family source said he died in Paris on Thursday due to Covid-19 complications.
The retired army major had two spells in power for a total of 13 years after overthrowing his predecessors.
In October, he was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment by a Burundi court accused of assassinating the country’s first democratically elected President Melchior Ndadaye in 1993 – which sparked the killing of an estimated 300,000 people.
He denied any wrongdoing.
Last month, he resigned from an African Union role as envoy to the Sahel region, saying he wanted to devote more time on clearing his name.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
‘We want our children back’: Nigeria’s kidnapping nightmare spreads south
35 minutes -
Energy Minister pushes for early completion of 900MW Takoradi Power Plant
38 minutes -
DBG marks 5th Anniversary with focus on scaling up activities in key target areas
38 minutes -
JoyNews’ Samson Anyenini among personalities to be houred at GJA Press Freedom Awards
42 minutes -
GJA to honour champions of press freedom and media development
53 minutes -
NPA commends SSNIT for Telehealth Service initiative
1 hour -
Nurses and Midwives Union condemns assault on midwife at Tema Community 22 Polyclinic
2 hours -
FoSCel founder urges free genotype screening for Ghanaian youth
2 hours -
Savelugu drug lord jailed three years for tramadol offences, faces further drug charges
2 hours -
Nearly 50 people die of thirst in Sahara desert after lorry breaks down
2 hours -
UPSA management pays courtesy call on Duncan-Williams ahead of 60th anniversary thanksgiving service
2 hours -
Tampuli donates medical equipment, staff accommodation to four health facilities in Gushegu
2 hours -
Accra floods: “I jumped through the window” — 14-year-old girl loses all in deluge
2 hours -
Stars pay tribute to ‘visionary’ Mobo Awards founder Kanya King
2 hours -
Upper West launches Tree for Life initiative to fight desertification
2 hours