The former President of Peru who faced conviction for human rights violations and corruption, Alberto Fujimori, has passed away at the age of 86.
His daughter Keiko Fujimori confirmed the news. Fujimori, who led Peru from 1990 to 2000, was ousted amidst severe allegations of corruption and was later convicted for his involvement in multiple cases, including the orchestration of two death squad massacres in the early 1990s.
Despite the controversies surrounding his presidency, particularly his iron-fisted approach to a leftist guerrilla uprising, he remains a divisive figure.
His supporters credit him with the defeat of the Sendero Luminoso, a Maoist insurgency that many feared would seize power, while critics highlight the severe human rights abuses committed under his leadership.
During his tenure, an estimated 69,000 lives were lost, many of them from marginalized indigenous communities.
Fujimori, the son of Japanese immigrants, was forced to flee Peru after his presidency and sought refuge in Japan.
He was eventually extradited from Chile, where he had been arrested, to face trial in Peru. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison but was released in December 2023, after serving more than 15 years, following the reinstatement of a presidential pardon issued six years earlier.
In a statement shared by his children, Keiko, Hiro, Sachie, and Kenji Fujimori, they said, “After a long battle with cancer, our father, Alberto Fujimori, has just departed to meet the Lord.” They expressed gratitude for the support of those who stood by him, asking for prayers for his soul. “Thank you for so much, Dad,” the statement concluded.
His physician, Dr. Jose Carlos Gutierrez, revealed that the former president had been battling tongue cancer, which was diagnosed earlier in the year.
Gutierrez explained that Fujimori’s death was caused by complications related to his illness, noting that the treatment, though effective, had significant side effects.
“Two days ago, he began to experience shortness of breath, and we had to administer oxygen,” the doctor stated. “His condition deteriorated, leading to unconsciousness the night before his death. He passed away around 18:00 local time.”
Outside Fujimori’s residence, his supporters gathered following the announcement of his death, reflecting the enduring divide in public opinion regarding his legacy.
To many, Fujimori was a leader who pulled Peru out of economic chaos and stopped the rise of a feared rebel movement.
To others, however, he was the architect of brutal campaigns that led to the deaths and disappearances of thousands.
Keiko Fujimori, who now leads Peru’s largest political party, has vowed to continue her father’s political legacy. Having narrowly lost the previous presidential elections, she has already declared her intention to run again in 2026.
