Tunisia’s 92-year-old president, Beji Caid Essebsi, has died.

Essebsi contributed immensely in transitioning to democracy after a 2011 revolution.

He was taken to a military hospital on Wednesday. Essebsi had last month spent a week in the hospital after suffering what authorities described as a severe health crisis.

In a statement, the presidency said:
On Thursday morning, the President of the Republic died at the military hospital in Tunis … The burial ceremony will be announced later.
The speaker of Parliament is expected to assume the presidency in an acting capacity.
Parliamentary elections are expected to be held on Oct. 6 with a presidential vote following on Nov. 17.Reuters