NYABIHU-Nyabihu District is mourning the shocking and untimely death of the newly elected Mayor, Jean Baptiste Nsengiyunva. He reportedly died in his sleep on Thursday night.

Nsengiyunva, 39, had complained of chest pains and weakness in his body, but continued his work on Wednesday. He passed away at his home in Nyabihu District.

According to the District Executive Secretary, Emmanuel Habyarimana, a post-mortem conducted at Gisenyi Hospital revealed the cause of death as cardiac arrest.

"He went for a meeting in Jenda Sector for the Girinka program, and then went to Musanze to close the training workshop of workers. But he addressed the meetings while seated, complaining of being unwell and weak,” Habyarimana said.

Nsengiyunva, a former lecturer at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology-KIST, was elected to lead the district during the recent local government elections.

His maid reportedly called the neighbours, after she discovered that Nsengiyunva had left his bedroom door ajar, and was lying motionless in his bed.

"The residents and fellow colleagues are in shock, we extend our sincere condolences to his family,” Habyarimana said.

His body will be buried at his home in Rubavu.

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