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Desi Bouterse, Fugitive Former Suriname President Convicted of Murder, Dies at 79

Dec 25, 2024, 02:36 PM

Desi Bouterse, the former president of Suriname, has died at the age of 79. Bouterse, who led a coup in 1980 and later returned to power through elections in 2010, was a controversial figure known for his charisma and populist social programs as well as for being convicted of drug trafficking and the murder of 15 political opponents in the 'December Murders' of 1982. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in December 2023 for these murders but had been a fugitive since then. Suriname's President Chan Santokhi expressed condolences to Bouterse's family and urged the nation to maintain calm and order. Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk also acknowledged Bouterse's significant impact on the country. The cause of Bouterse's death has not been disclosed.