2021 Review: High-profile African deaths: T. B. Joshua, Shekau, Idris Deby et. al.

A number of high-profile Africans died in 2021

GhanaWeb lists a number of them in our 2021 Review

Deaths, as much as they are hardly welcome are expected year in and out. Africa recorded a number of high-profile deaths in 2021.

Among the deaths that GhanaWeb listed as part of or review of 2021, every regional bloc experienced a high-profile death this year.

From confirmation of the death on an elusive terrorist leader in West Africa, through to a deposed president in North Africa, two sitting presidents died – one of health complications, the other in the frontline while fighting terrorists.

Two former presidents died in Sub-Saharan Africa, one a war crimes convict serving time in a neighbouring country and the other, a divisive racial character till death and after.

T. B. Joshua mourned across Africa

The death of Temitope Balogun Joshua popularly referred to as T. B. Joshua was one of the biggest deaths in the year under review. He died on June 5, 2021 after a church service in Lagos.

The popular televangelist’s death went beyond Africa to Asia and South Americas where his influence is strong.

Local media reported that he died of a cancer and a weeklong funeral and burial was held following which he was buried at the headquarters of the Synagogue Church Of All Nations, SCOAN, in Lagos.

Shekau finally killed

On multiple occasions, the Nigerian army and government claimed to have killed him but they had eggs in their faces when Abubakar Shekau turned up alive in videos mocking claims of his death, more often, he reiterated that his life was in the hands of Allah, his creator.

Little wonder when the media reported his death on May 19, 2021; it took the army a while to make a pronouncement.

For all it was worth, Shekau was killed by a rival faction, Islamic State in the West African Province, ISWAP. He actually blew himself up to escape capture after he was surrounded.

End of an era for one of Africa’s most wanted terrorist leaders but still a long way to go for the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region.

Tanzania’s COVID-denier president dies

John Magufuli won a second term as president of Tanzania in 2020 and was duly sworn in, months later he is taken ill, the government finally confirmed rumours of his demise on March 26, 2021.

The official record was as a result of heart complications but opposition insists it was due to COVID-19.

They claim the government was ‘afraid’ to admit COVID-19 as the cause of death because he (Magufuli) was known to be an ardent denier of COVID-19, claiming through 2020 that Tanzania was COVID free after prayers and recommending steam inhalation as a cure.

Abdul Aziz Bouteflika flickers and bows out

After two decades as president of Algeria, an aging Abdul Aziz Bouteflika was deposed in 2019 on the back of a dogged protest movement.

Two years later, he died on September 17, bequeathing his democratic successor a protest movement.

Also post-Bouteflika, the courts have convicted a number of allies of corruption including his brother. He was at the time of his ousting, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.

Idris Deby dies in military combat

Months prior, Idris Deby had been decorated with the military title of Marshal – a five-star officer, the only holder of the post in Chad. As is usual of him, he usually joins his forces on the frontlines to combat rebels.

When Chadian rebels reportedly armed by Libyan forces rampaged from the north and threatened the capital Ndjamena, Deby joined the fight in the frontlines and was killed there on April 20, 2021.

His son, Mahamat Idris Deby was sworn in and is currently leading a transitional team.

Hissene Habre, Chadian ex-president dies in Senegal jail

Former Chadian president Hissene Habre died in August 2021 in a Senegalese jail where he was serving time for war crimes during his time as President.

He had been jailed by an African Court that sits in Senegal. He was removed as President by then rebel group led by Idris Deby. He was the first African leader to be tried by the particular court.

FW de Klerk dies

South Africa was faced with the death of its last white president, Frederik Willem de Klerk.

He shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela, credited with accepting to dismantle apartheid and to help with the transition to democracy and Black-majority rule.

He was president of South Africa from 1989 till 1994 and was Mandela’s deputy from 1994 to 1996.