Desi Bouterse, Former Suriname Leader and Fugitive, Dies at 79

The ex-dictator, convicted of murders and drug trafficking, passed away while evading a 20-year prison sentence for political killings in 1982.

Desi Bouterse, a former military dictator and twice-elected president of Suriname, died on Tuesday at the age of 79 after a brief illness, according to government statements.
Bouterse had been on the run since December 2023, when his 20-year prison sentence for the 1982 killings of 15 political opponents was upheld by a Surinamese court.
His death marks the end of a controversial legacy, including a 1980 military coup, a cocaine trafficking conviction in the Netherlands, and his role in the politically motivated 'December Murders.'
Supporters gathered at his Paramaribo residence to mourn, while President Chan Santokhi called for calm and dignity as investigations into the circumstances of his death continue.
Bouterse's political career spanned decades, from seizing power through a coup to being elected president in 2010, leaving a polarizing impact on Suriname's history and governance.