⚖️Desi Bouterse, former president, dictator, and convicted murderer dead at 79 years old

Happy Monday Morning!

In this week’s newsletter, Desi Bouterse, former president and dictator of Suriname has passed away. Suriname has been awash with reactions to the death of the former leader who was part of Surinamese politics for over 40 years.

Former leader Desi Bouterse died this week after being on the run.

• Former Surinamese leader Desi Bouterse passed away on Tuesday.

• Many gathered at his residence in Leonsberg and his party headquarters in Geyersvlijt to seek confirmation.

• At his home in Leonsberg, people were advised to go to Geyersvlijt for further updates.

• Bouterse had been a fugitive after being sentenced a year ago by the Court of Justice to 20 years in prison for his involvement in the December 8, 1982 massacre, where 15 individuals were murdered.

• On Sunday, December 22, 2024, police conducted raids at four locations in search of Bouterse, who was wanted nationally and internationally. Searches were carried out at his Geyersvlijt residence, and in Casiwinica and Brokobaka, but he was not found.

The arrival and news of Bouterse’s death led to confusion around the country about how the convict died.

• The Suriname Police Force announced that on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, at approximately 5:11 AM, they received a report that fugitive convict Desiré Delano Bouterse had passed away. His body was transported from an unknown location to his residence in Leonsberg by unidentified individuals.

• Upon arriving at Bouterse's residence, a house resident informed the police that unknown parties had recently delivered the body. The police inspected the body, and a doctor was called in according to protocol. The doctor found no signs of foul play. The body was seized for autopsy, in coordination with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, to determine the likely cause of death.

• A criminal investigation is ongoing, and several individuals are being questioned. The police urge the public to await the investigation results and refrain from speculation.

• The cause of death was complications from liver failure due to severe liver fibrosis caused by chronic alcohol use.

As the death of former president and dictator Desi Bouterse circulated throughout the country, there were questions about whether he was to be given a state funeral.

• Former president Desi Bouterse will not receive a state funeral. However, flags will be flown at half-mast on the day of his funeral. There will be no official condolence register from the government, but the funeral procession will be accompanied by police and military personnel to maintain order.

• At a press conference, Minister Albert Ramdin (Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Cooperation) explained that state honors are reserved for current and former presidents and vice presidents, which must be requested by the family, which did not occur in this case.

• In the 1980s, Bouterse as military commander ruled as a dictator. During this time, he oversaw the December Murders and the Internal War. Later, he was democratically elected president in 2010 and 2015.

• However, he was convicted by the Court of Justice and sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the December 8 Murders. Bouterse evaded this sentence and remained a fugitive until his death.

After Bouterse’s death, the news circulated throughout Dutch media where Bouterse was also a convicted fugitive for years.

• The Dutch media are reportedly spending significant sums to determine where Desi Bouterse passed away. It has been confirmed that he did not die at his residence in Leonsberg, nor at properties in Cassewinica or Brokobaka. Earlier claims by a French outlet that he died in Commewijne are also false. Bouterse died on Monday, December 23, and his body was transported by water and road to Leonsberg, arriving around 4:30 AM on December 25.

• Police Chief Bryan Isaacs refuted speculative reports from Dutch media. He reiterated that during police raids on December 22 at various locations, including Bouterse's residence, Cassewinica, Brokobaka, and the home of another fugitive, Iwan Dijksteel, no trace of Bouterse was found.

• Minister Albert Ramdin dismissed claims by De Telegraaf that an agreement was made between the government and Bouterse to allow him to die at home. Ramdin criticized these reports as destabilizing misinformation and questioned the journalistic standards of the publication.

• The police have yet to determine where Bouterse was at the time of his death, how his body was transported to Paramaribo, and who was involved in the process.

• A report of his death was made to the police just after 5:00 AM on December 25. Dutch journalists claim they have identified Bouterse’s possible last location through aerial surveillance over Suriname, but these assertions remain unverified.

Suriname’s debt-to-GDP ratio rose to 83.5% in September 2024.

• External debt increased to SRD 84.4 billion, driven by sharp currency devaluations in September, while domestic debt decreased to SRD 21.7 billion due to repayments, reports the Suriname Economic Oversight Board (SEOB).

• Suriname and China have made significant progress in restructuring over half a billion US dollars of Suriname's debt. The first phase, completed with the signing of a Supplementary Finance Agreement, reorganized payment arrears up to 2021 and obligations from 2022 to 2024 over a longer timeline.

• Suriname has also completed the second phase of debt restructuring with the Paris Club. Bilateral debts will be repaid over 17 years starting in 2025, with a four-year grace period. Debts with state guarantees will have a 12-year term with a five-year grace period. These measures improve the outlook for public finances.

• The recapitalization of the Central Bank of Suriname will increase domestic debt. While a prior GDP revision lowered debt ratios, recent currency developments have caused a new rise in the debt-to-GDP ratio.