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.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana ranked 7th globally as biggest beneficiary of World Bank funding
40 seconds -
IMF board to disburse $360m to Ghana in December after third review
5 mins -
Former Bono Regional NPP organiser donates 13 motorbikes to 12 constituencies
11 mins -
Securities industry: Assets under management estimated at GH¢81.7bn in quarter 3, 2024
16 mins -
Gold Fields Ghana Foundation challenges graduates to maximise benefits of community apprenticeship programme
2 hours -
GBC accuses Deputy Information Minister Sylvester Tetteh of demolishing its bungalow illegally
2 hours -
Boost for education as government commissions 80 projects
2 hours -
NAPO commissions library to honour Atta-Mills’ memory
2 hours -
OmniBSIC Bank champions health and wellness with thriving community walk
2 hours -
Kora Wearables unveils Neo: The Ultimate Smartwatch for Ghana’s tech-savvy and health-conscious users
2 hours -
NDC supports Dampare’s ‘no guns at polling stations’ directive
3 hours -
Police officer interdicted after video of assault goes viral
3 hours -
KNUST’s Prof. Reginald Annan named first African recipient of World Cancer Research Fund
3 hours -
George Twum-Barimah-Adu pledges inclusive cabinet with Minority and Majority leaders
4 hours -
Labourer jailed 5 years for inflicting cutlass wounds on businessman
4 hours