The pandemic years set a record for the deaths of presidents in the 21st century

From the beginning of 2020 to mid-July of this year, eight heads of state or government in power were killed or died - a record number in at least the last two decades, RBC calculated. This is more than in 2018-2019 (five leaders died or were killed) or in 2016-2017 (four people). All leader deaths or deaths in 2020-2021 occurred in third world countries. In 2003–2004, seven leaders of heads of state or government died.

The latest case is the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. He was shot dead on the night of July 7 at his own residence, his wife was seriously wounded, but survived after receiving medical care in the United States . Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said the attackers spoke English and Spanish. Matthias Pierre, Minister for Voting and Inter-Party Relations, said that the gang that organized the murder of Moise included 26 people. Four of them were shot dead.

In April, Chadian President Idriss Deby died from injuries sustained in combat with rebels. He has been HEAD of state since 1990. The government and parliament of Chad have been dissolved, and a military-created council will rule the country for the next 18 months.

Two other African leaders - Tanzania's President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli and Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza - died of illness. The media reported that both leaders were infected with the CORONAVIRUS covid-19 . Magufuli, who died in March of this year, refused to impose a lockdown in Tanzania and spoke out against the wearing of medical masks. He also asked the people of Tanzania to pray for victory over the coronavirus. In April 2020, Tanzania stopped publishing official statistics of cases, and Magufuli claimed that his country was free from infection and invited tourists to the republic.

Nkurunziza died on June 8, 2020 from cardiac arrest. At the same time, local media wrote that the head of state had a coronavirus. Nkurunziza was at the head of Burundi for a total of 15 years.