Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza, aged 55, has died after suffering a cardiac arrest, the government of Burundi has said in a statement.

He was admitted to hospital on Saturday after feeling unwell, his condition improved but he suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday.

“Immediate resuscitation was undertaken by a multidisciplinary team of doctors for several hours with cardio-respiratory assistance,” said the Burundian government. But “the medical team was unable to recover the patient”.

The longtime outgoing president (2005 -2020) stepped aside from running in the 20 May elections, even though he technically could have presented himself as a candidate.

Mr Nkurunziza was due to step down from the presidency in August. He had ruled Burundi for 15 years.