Guinea-Bissau President Sanhá dies in Paris at age 64

Guinea-Bissau President Sanhá dies in Paris at age 64

2012-01-10 06:27:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

PARIS (BNO NEWS) -- Guinea-Bissau President Malam Bacai Sanhá died as a result of a long illness at a military hospital in Paris on Monday morning, officials said. He was 64 years old.

Sanhá, who came to power in September 2009 following presidential elections, had been receiving medical treatment in Paris since November 2011. Few details about his condition were released, but he was previously hospitalized for diabetes and a drop in hemoglobin.

"The Presidency of the Republic comes through this medium to communicate to the Guinean people and the international community, with pain and dismay, that excellency Malam Bacai Sanhá died this morning," a statement from the presidential office said.

Officials said Sanhá died at around 11:10 a.m. local time at the Val-de-Grace military hospital in Paris. The government announced a seven-day national mourning period and said details about Sanhá's funeral would be announced at a later time.

The death comes just weeks after Rear Admiral Bubo Na Tchuto, the head of the general staff of the Navy, unsuccessfully tried to seize power of the African nation. Few details about the failed coup were released, but clashes had been reported in the country's capital, Bissau.

According to the country's constitution, presidential elections must be held within 90 days. Sanhá was the only president of the country to not have been assassinated in office or overthrown. His predecessor, João Bernardo Vieira, was shot dead in March 2009 after a brutal beating.

Following Monday's announcement, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was deeply saddened by Sanhá's death and offered his condolences to his family and the people of Guinea-Bissau. "[ban] pays tribute to President Sanhá's leadership in guiding Guinea-Bissau, at a particularly difficult time in its history," Ban's spokesman said.

The spokesman added: "The Secretary-General trusts that the succession arrangements provided for in the Constitution of Guinea-Bissau will be fully respected. He wishes to reassure the national authorities and the people of Guinea-Bissau of the full support of the United Nations."

South African President Jacob Zuma also offered his condolences on behalf of his government. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of President Sanhá, the Government and the people of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau during this difficult period of mourning the death of their leader," he said.

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