Burundi's former President Buyoya dies of COVID-19

By Yvan Rukundo

BUJUMBURA, Burundi (AA) - Burundi's former President Pierre Buyoya died in Paris on Thursday night, local media reported.

He was 71.

“He left us last night after being evacuated to Paris. He was infected with COVID-19," his family member told a Burundi-based IWACU news website.

Buyoya served twice as the president of the country, from 1987 to 1993 and then from 1996 until 2002. He also served as the High Commissioner of the African Union in Mali and the Sahel until Nov. 2020.

Buyoya's death came just over six months after the death of the country’s President Pierre Nkurunziza on June 8, 2020.

In 2008, Buyoya was appointed by the African Union to lead a peace mission in Chad.

On Oct.19, 2020, the Supreme Court of Burundi sentenced Buyoya in absentia to life in prison for the 1993 murder of President Melchior Ndadaye.​​​​​​​