Tag #Desiré Bouterse

How did Bouterse's rule contribute to Suriname's political and economic landscape, and what were the long-term effects of his actions?

Bouterse's 1980 coup d'état, initially met with some leniency, was followed by a period of repression, culminating in the December Murders—the killing of 15 political opponents. This event, along with his later drug trafficking conviction, shaped his controversial image and led to his eventual 20-year prison sentence in 2022, from which he was a fugitive until his death.