Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has expressed his condolences to the government and people of Guinea-Bissau following the passing of its President Malam Bacai Sanha.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of President Sanha, the government and the people of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau during this difficult period of mourning the death of their leader, President Sanha," said Zuma.
Sanha died on Monday at Val de Grace Hospital in Paris where he was admitted in late November.
Although it is not clear what was the cause of the death was, media reports indicate that it might be diabetes related.
The 64-year-old had been ill since he took power in 2009 after his predecessor Joao Bernardo Vieira was assassinated.
His death will leave a power vacuum in the West African country, which has a long history of internal conflict, corruption, coups and assassinations.
