Burundi’s outgoing president dies, possibly of covid-19
Few will mourn Pierre Nkurunziza, whose regime murdered and tortured opponents
IN FOOTBALL, WROTE Jean-Paul Sartre, everything is complicated by the presence of the other team. Pierre Nkurunziza had ways of simplifying things. Burundi’s president, who died on June 8th, would travel with his football team, Hallelujah FC. At matches opponents would shy away from tackles. Some who did not were arrested—a terrifying experience in Mr Nkurunziza’s police state.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline ““The Champion of Patriotism””
From the June 13th 2020 edition
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