PARAMARIBO, Suriname (AP) 鈥� Former Suriname President , an ex-police commissioner who investigated the 1982 killings of more than a dozen political opponents that deeply scarred the South American country, has died. He was 67.
Santokhi, who was also known as “Chan,鈥� led the country as president from 2020 to 2025, and previously served as minister of justice and police from 2005 to 2010.
Suriname confirmed Santokhi鈥檚 death in a statement on social media, writing that 鈥渉is years of service in various public functions will be remembered.鈥�
The cause of death was not immediately known.
Rob Jetten, the prime minister of the Netherlands, wrote on X that he was 鈥済rieved and shocked by the sudden passing鈥� of Santokhi: 鈥淎s president, and in his other roles, he meant a great deal to Suriname. He also tirelessly worked to strengthen the ties between the Netherlands and Suriname.鈥�
is a former Dutch colony.
Also mourning Santokhi’s death was Caricom, a Caribbean trade bloc that saw him as chairman from July to December 2022: 鈥淭he community has lost a dedicated regionalist.鈥�
Irfaan Ali, president of neighboring Guyana, described Santokhi as a 鈥渕an of quiet strength鈥� who served his people and country 鈥渨ith dedication and conviction.鈥�
鈥淭he region has lost a fine statesman, one who carried the mantle of leadership with grace and humility,鈥� he wrote on X.
Santokhi took over a bankrupt Suriname from his predecessor, , and led the country to economic stability, partly supported by an International Monetary Fund program. However, austere measures implemented to comply with the program translated into big sacrifices for the Surinamese people, including the phasing out of fuel, water and electricity subsidies.
In February 2023, hundreds of demonstrators to protest high fuel and electricity prices as they demanded Santokhi鈥檚 resignation.
Voters following the May 2025 general election.
Earlier, as minister of justice and police, Santokhi cracked down on drug trafficking and other crimes, earning him the nickname 鈥淭he Sheriff.鈥�
Before entering politics, Santokhi was a police commissioner, leading the investigation into the so-called 鈥淒ecember killings,鈥� in which 15 political opponents of the military regime led by Bouterse were shot and killed in December 1982.
Bouterse faced a criminal trial that began in 2007, a quarter-century after the killings took place. He was eventually sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted twice in the killings but remained a fugitive .
Bouterse had accepted 鈥減olitical responsibility鈥� for the killings but always denied he was present for them.
Even before the trial began, Bouterse accused Santokhi of wanting to imprison and kill him. The two were fierce political opponents.
Santokhi鈥檚 success as a police officer and later as a minister paved the way for him to claim the chairmanship of the Progressive Reform Party in 2011 following the resignation of then-chairman Ramdien Sardjoe.
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