UPDATE- Africa mourns Tanzanian president’s demise

* UPDATES WITH SOUTH SUDAN DECLARES 3 DAYS MOURNING

By Seleshi Tessema

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) – Tanzanian President John Magufuli, 61, died on Wednesday, prompting outpourings of grief and condolence messages from African capitals.

Earlier Wednesday in a televised announcement, Tanzania’s Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan said: “With great sadness, I announce the death of our brave leader President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, who died today at around 6 p.m. local time.”

Magufuli was admitted to the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute in Dar Es Salaam on March 6, where he was treated for chronic atrial fibrillation, a heart condition he had suffered for more than 10 years, Hassan said.

Magufuli’s death came after two weeks of speculation about his health on suspicion of contracting COVID-19.

He had declared COVID-19 defeated in his country, even when the World Health Organization urged cooperation from the government.

However, he had recently acknowledged that the virus was still being transmitted when the vice president of semi-autonomous Zanzibar reportedly died of COVID-19.

-African Union

African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat Thursday eulogized the late Tanzanian president as a “committed Pan Africanist leader”.

In a Facebook message, Faki said the African Union family condoles “the untimely passing of H.E. President John Pombe Magafuli”, adding: “Africa has lost a champion of regional cooperation in the East African region and a committed Pan Africanist leader.”

-Burundi

Expressing grief over Magufuli’s death, Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye described the late president as a “true Pan Africanist”.

“I am terribly saddened to learn of the passing of my friend & brother H.E John Pombe Magufuli, President of the United Republic of #Tanzania. My thoughts & prayers go out to the Government and People of Tanzania & his Family for the loss of a Great Leader, a true Panafricanist,” Ndayishimiye tweeted Thursday.

- South Africa

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke to Tanzanian vice president to express “deepest condolences”.

“I spoke to the Vice President Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, to express our deepest condolences as they go through this difficult moment,” Ramaphosa tweeted Thursday.

-Kenya

Condoling Magufuli’s demise, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta also announced that flags in Kenya and all Kenyan diplomatic missions abroad will be flown at half-mast from March 18 until the burial of the Tanzanian president.

“In testimony of the high esteem in which the People of Kenya hold President John Pombe Magufuli, the Republic of Kenya will observe a seven-day national mourning,” Kenyatta said Thursday.

“As a symbol of Kenya’s enduring respect for Magufuli, as well as Kenya’s solemn solidarity with the nation and people of the United Republic of Tanzania,” flags in Kenya and its diplomatic missions will be flown at half-mast, he added.

- Somalia

Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, meanwhile, sent his condolences to Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the former First Lady Mama Janet Magufuli.

President Farmajo “mourns with the Government & the People of the United Republic of Tanzania following the sad loss of the fifth President of the Republic H.E President John Pombe Magufuli. H.E Farmaajo sends his condolences to the VP H.E @SuluhuSamia& 1st Lady Mama Janet Magufuli,” Farmajo’s office Villa Somalia tweeted.

- Ethiopia

A similar condolence message was also posted by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

“My sincere condolences to the people and Government of #Tanzania on the passing of President John Pombe Magufuli. May he Rest in Peace,” he tweeted.

- Rwanda

Rwandan President Paul Kagame Thursday declared national mourning “in solidarity with the government and people of Tanzania” following the passing of President John Magufuli.

He also announced that national flags at home and at diplomatic missions abroad will fly at half-mast.

-South Sudan

South Sudan President Salva Kiir declared three-day mourning across South Sudan following Magufuli's death.

In a statement Thursday, Kiir said the people of South Sudan are deeply saddened and grieving with their brothers and sisters in the United Republic of Tanzania.

He instructed all the government institutions and diplomatic missions abroad to fly their flags half-mast during this period beginning from Thursday in honor of the late president.

*Andrew Wasike from Nairobi, Kenya, James Tasamba from Kigali, Rwanda and Benjamin Takpiny from Juba, South Sudan contributed to this story.