Tanzania’s former President Benjamin Mkapa, who served from 1995 to 2005, died in the early hours of Friday, President John Magufuli said in a statement.
Mkapa, the East African nation’s third president who led several regional peace mediation efforts in office and afterwards, died while receiving treatment at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Magufuli said, without giving more details.
He declared a seven day mourning period, during which all flags will be flown at half-mast.
“Magufuli asks all Tanzanians to remain calm, patient and united during this difficult time,” a statement from his office said.
Mkapa, 81, also served as an ambassador, minister and key official of the ruling CCM party, Magufuli said.
He was born in 1938 in Ndanda, near Masasi in Mtwara region.
He graduated from Makerere University in Uganda in 1962 with a degree in English.
He also attended Columbia University in 1963 and was awarded a master’s degree in international affairs.
Previous posts include being an administrative officer in Dodoma and the Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education.
He also was Tanzania’s ambassador to Canada in the year 1982 and to the United States Of America from 1983 to 1984.
The late Mkapa was also the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1977 to 1980 and again from 1984 to 1990.
In 1995, Mkapa, a CCM candidate, was elected as President based on a popular anti-corruption campaign and the strong support of former President Julius Nyerere.