Burundi's government has announced the sudden death of President Pierre Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader who took office following a bloody civil war in 2005.

Nkurunziza initially served as the minister of good governance in a transitional administration before taking Burundi's highest post in August 2005 after legislators elected him president.

Things took a turn for the worse in April 2015 when Nkurunziza's controversial decision to seek a third term in office plunged the country into widespread violence that left hundreds of people dead.

In 2017, Nkurunziza formally withdrew Burundi from the International Criminal Court (ICC) - the first country to do so - amid accusations the court was focusing too much on the continent.

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A 2018 referendum cleared the way for Nkurunziza to potentially stay in power until 2034, but the president later surprised observers by deciding not to run in this year's election and back Ndayishimiye, the candidate of the governing CNDD-FDD party.