Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has died aged 61

Tanzanian President John Magufuli died at the age of 61, according to the country’s vice president.

In a speech broadcast on state television on Wednesday, Samia Suluhu Hassan said he died of heart problems at a hospital in Dar es Salaam.

Mr Magufuli hasn’t been seen in public in over two weeks, and reports about his health have been circulating.

Opposition politicians said he had contracted Covid-19 earlier this week, but this has not been verified.

Vice-President Hassan said, “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.”

She announced that the country would be in mourning for 14 days and that flags would be flown at half mast.

Mr. Magufuli was voted out of office.