Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has eulogised President John Magufuli as a “pragmatic leader who believed in and worked for the economic empowerment of East Africans”.
“I have, with great sadness, learnt of the death of His Excellency John Pombe Magufuli. He was a pragmatic leader who believed in and worked for the economic empowerment of East Africans. We join Tanzania in mourning the passing of a great son of Africa. May his soul rest in peace,” he tweeted.
The Tanzanian president died on Wednesday from heart complications at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, according to an announcement by Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan on state television.
Tributes have been pouring in for Magufuli who died on Wednesday aged 61.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his “deep sadness” on the death of Tanzania’s President John Magufuli.
In a statement, President Ramaphosa said he had spoken to Tanzanian Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan “to express condolences in his personal capacity and on behalf of all South Africans”.
“South Africa is united in grief with the government and people of Tanzania as they go through this difficult moment,” he said.
Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the current chairman of the East African Community, has declared a seven-day period of national mourning in Kenya.
He said the flag of the East African Community and Kenya’s flag would be flown at half-mast throughout Kenya and all its diplomatic missions abroad until sunset on the day of Mr Magufuli’s funeral.
The US State Department has expressed condolences to Tanzanians and added that “we hope that Tanzania can move forward on a democratic and prosperous path”.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he was sorry to hear of President Magufuli’s death.
