Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has died aged 61. His death was announced by the country’s vice-president on state television.
Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan said President Magufuli died on Wednesday from heart complications at a local hospital in Dar es Salaam.
President Magufuli had not been seen in public for more than two weeks, and rumours have been circulating about his health.
Opposition politicians said earlier this week that he had contracted Covid-19, but this has not been officially confirmed.
“It is with deep regret that I inform you that today… we lost our brave leader, the President of the Republic of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli,” Vice-President Hassan said.
Fourteen days of national mourning have been declared and flags will fly at half mast. Magufuli was declared Tanzanian president in October 2015.
