Desi Bouterse, a dictator convicted of murder who twice ruled Suriname, has died at 79 - Former Surinamese dictator Desi Bouterse has died at 79
Desi Bouterse, the former military dictator of Suriname who was convicted of murder for his role in the 1982 execution of 15 political opponents, has died at the age of 79. Bouterse, who first seized power in a 1980 coup, ruled Suriname for over a decade before stepping down in 1991. Despite his conviction, he returned to politics and was elected president in 2010, serving until 2020. His death was announced by his party, the National Democratic Party (NDP), which did not specify the cause but noted he had been hospitalized. Bouterse's legacy is marked by his authoritarian rule, the controversial amnesty he granted himself, and his significant influence on Surinamese politics, leaving behind a complex and divisive figure in the nation's history.
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