Global Dispatches

Global Dispatches

Share this post

Global Dispatches
Global Dispatches
The Death of Pierre Nkurunziza and What Comes Next for Burundi
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

The Death of Pierre Nkurunziza and What Comes Next for Burundi

Mark Leon Goldberg's avatar
Mark Leon Goldberg
Jul 02, 2020
∙ Paid

Share this post

Global Dispatches
Global Dispatches
The Death of Pierre Nkurunziza and What Comes Next for Burundi
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

Burundi's longtime ruler Pierre Nkurunziza died suddenly on June 8th, quite possibly from COVID-19. Nkurunziza has been president of Burundi since 2005, and in recent years his rule became firmly authoritarian.  His death sent shockwaves across Africa and the world

On the line with me today is Yolande Bouka, a professor of political studies at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. We discuss the legacy of Pierre Nkurunziza and what this chaotic moment means for Burundi and the surrounding region. 

We kick off discussing the circumstances surrounding Nkurunziza's death. We then discuss his fraught time in power, including a key moment in 2015, when he engineered for himself a constitutionally dubious third term in office and survived a coup attempt. The conflict surrounding that episode lead to the displacement of 400,000 people -- the impact of which is being felt across the region today. We also discuss the background of the new president of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye and what hi…

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Global Dispatches to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Mark Leon Goldberg
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More