Robert Mugabe is sworn in for his seventh term as Zimbabwe's President in August 2013. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/21/africa/robert-mugabe-resigns-zimbabwe-president/index.html" target="_blank">He resigned</a> in November 2017 after nearly four decades in power.
In pictures: The life and career of Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe is sworn in for his seventh term as Zimbabwe's President in August 2013. He resigned in November 2017 after nearly four decades in power.
ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images

Updated 12:59 PM EDT, Mon September 9, 2019

Former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has died at the age of 95, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced Friday.

Mugabe became the first prime minister of newly independent Zimbabwe, formerly known as Rhodesia, in 1980. He held office for over three decades before being deposed in a coup in 2017.

Mugabe gestures towards the media in Geneva, Switzerland, at a 1974 conference convened to address the civil war in Rhodesia. After being imprisoned for 10 years in Rhodesia, Mugabe attended the peace talks as a leader of the guerrilla movement ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front). Rhodesia was the state that eventually became Zimbabwe.
Mugabe gestures towards the media in Geneva, Switzerland, at a 1974 conference convened to address the civil war in Rhodesia. After being imprisoned for 10 years in Rhodesia, Mugabe attended the peace talks as a leader of the guerrilla movement ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front). Rhodesia was the state that eventually became Zimbabwe.
AP
Mugabe speaks to the press in Geneva in 1976. The following year he was elected president of ZANU-PF and commander-in-chief of the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army.
Mugabe speaks to the press in Geneva in 1976. The following year he was elected president of ZANU-PF and commander-in-chief of the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army.
Horst Faas/AP
Mugabe holds a news conference in Salisbury -- now Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe -- in March 1980. He had just been elected as the first prime minister of Zimbabwe, helping to form the new country after British rule of Rhodesia came to an end.
Mugabe holds a news conference in Salisbury -- now Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe -- in March 1980. He had just been elected as the first prime minister of Zimbabwe, helping to form the new country after British rule of Rhodesia came to an end.
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From left, NBC News moderator Bill Monroe, Newsday's Les Payne, the Chicago Sun Times' Robert Novak and NBC News' Garrick Utley speak with Mugabe during an episode of "Meet the Press" in 1980.
From left, NBC News moderator Bill Monroe, Newsday's Les Payne, the Chicago Sun Times' Robert Novak and NBC News' Garrick Utley speak with Mugabe during an episode of "Meet the Press" in 1980.
NBC News/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Mugabe holds hands with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi at the Organization of African Unity summit in August 1982.
Mugabe holds hands with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi at the Organization of African Unity summit in August 1982.
Daniel Simon/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
Mugabe speaks with his first wife, Sally, during an event in Salisbury in 1980. The pair were married until Sally died in 1992. They had one son, who died at age 4.
Mugabe speaks with his first wife, Sally, during an event in Salisbury in 1980. The pair were married until Sally died in 1992. They had one son, who died at age 4.
Jean-Claude Francolon/Gamma/Getty Images
Mugabe meets with French President Francois Mitterand in Paris in 1982.
Mugabe meets with French President Francois Mitterand in Paris in 1982.
Laurent Maous/Gamma/Getty Images
Mugabe is seen with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in New Delhi in 1983.
Mugabe is seen with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in New Delhi in 1983.
Jean-Claude Francolon/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
Mugabe walks hand in hand with American civil rights activist Jesse Jackson during the Summit of Non-Aligned Countries, which Harare hosted in 1986.
Mugabe walks hand in hand with American civil rights activist Jesse Jackson during the Summit of Non-Aligned Countries, which Harare hosted in 1986.
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Mugabe delivers a speech in Harare in August 1986.
Mugabe delivers a speech in Harare in August 1986.
Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images
Mugabe poses for a photo with other leaders at a Commonwealth of Nations meeting in London in 1986. Pictured from left, in the back row, are Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Commonwealth Secretary-General S.S. Ramphal, Australian Prime Minister Robert Hawke and Mugabe. In the front row, from left, are British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Bahamian Prime Minister Lynden Pindling and Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.
Mugabe poses for a photo with other leaders at a Commonwealth of Nations meeting in London in 1986. Pictured from left, in the back row, are Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Commonwealth Secretary-General S.S. Ramphal, Australian Prime Minister Robert Hawke and Mugabe. In the front row, from left, are British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Bahamian Prime Minister Lynden Pindling and Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.
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Britain's Queen Elizabeth II toasts Mugabe during a banquet in the Queen's honor in Harare in October 1991. The Queen had last visited the territory that became Zimbabwe in 1947.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II toasts Mugabe during a banquet in the Queen's honor in Harare in October 1991. The Queen had last visited the territory that became Zimbabwe in 1947.
AP
US President Bill Clinton gestures while talking to Mugabe after a White House meeting in Washington in May 1995.
US President Bill Clinton gestures while talking to Mugabe after a White House meeting in Washington in May 1995.
Greg Gibson/AP
Mugabe marries Grace Marufu on August 17, 1996. Earlier in the year, he was re-elected President after all of his opponents dropped out of the race.
Mugabe marries Grace Marufu on August 17, 1996. Earlier in the year, he was re-elected President after all of his opponents dropped out of the race.
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British Prime Minister Tony Blair talks with Mugabe in October 1997, before the start of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair talks with Mugabe in October 1997, before the start of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
Gerry Penny/AFP/Getty Images
Mugabe speaks during the Southern Africa trade and investment summit in Windhoek, Namibia, in October 2000. Earlier in the year, he implemented a controversial land-reform program that saw the seizure of land from some 4,000 white farmers.
Mugabe speaks during the Southern Africa trade and investment summit in Windhoek, Namibia, in October 2000. Earlier in the year, he implemented a controversial land-reform program that saw the seizure of land from some 4,000 white farmers.
Jutta Dobler/AFP/Getty Images
Mugabe and Cuban President Fidel Castro are seen in Havana, Cuba, in September 2005.
Mugabe and Cuban President Fidel Castro are seen in Havana, Cuba, in September 2005.
Jose Goitia/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
South African President Jacob Zuma walks with Mugabe at Harare International Airport in March 2010.
South African President Jacob Zuma walks with Mugabe at Harare International Airport in March 2010.
Desmond Kwande/AFP/Getty Images
Mugabe addresses the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2010.
Mugabe addresses the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2010.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Mugabe cuts his birthday cake with his wife, Grace, and son Bellarmine Chatunga during celebrations in Harare in February 2011. Mugabe was turning 87.
Mugabe cuts his birthday cake with his wife, Grace, and son Bellarmine Chatunga during celebrations in Harare in February 2011. Mugabe was turning 87.
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Robert and Grace Mugabe arrive at the Vatican for the beatification ceremony of John Paul II in May 2011.
Robert and Grace Mugabe arrive at the Vatican for the beatification ceremony of John Paul II in May 2011.
Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images
Mugabe delivers a speech at his party's annual national conference in December 2012. He vowed to overhaul business laws to require 100% black ownership of firms.
Mugabe delivers a speech at his party's annual national conference in December 2012. He vowed to overhaul business laws to require 100% black ownership of firms.
Jekesai Njikizana/AFP/Getty Images
The Mugabes attend Pope Francis' inauguration Mass in March 2013.
The Mugabes attend Pope Francis' inauguration Mass in March 2013.
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Mugabe and Chinese President Xi Jinping participate in a signing ceremony in Beijing in 2014.
Mugabe and Chinese President Xi Jinping participate in a signing ceremony in Beijing in 2014.
Diego Azubel/Getty Images
Mugabe speaks at the ZANU-PF party's annual conference in December 2016. The party endorsed Mugabe as its candidate for the 2018 election.
Mugabe speaks at the ZANU-PF party's annual conference in December 2016. The party endorsed Mugabe as its candidate for the 2018 election.
Jekesai Njikizana/AFP/Getty Images
Mugabe reviews the guard of honor during Zimbabwe's 37th Independence Day celebrations in April 2017.
Mugabe reviews the guard of honor during Zimbabwe's 37th Independence Day celebrations in April 2017.
Jekesai Njikizana/AFP/Getty Images
Mugabe kisses his wife during Independence Day celebrations in April 2017. In early November, the<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/07/africa/zimbabwe-mugabe-vice-president-mnangagwa/index.html" target="_blank"> sacking of Mugabe's longtime ally and vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa,</a> was seen as a move to potentially clear the way for Grace Mugabe to succeed her 93-year-old husband.
Mugabe kisses his wife during Independence Day celebrations in April 2017. In early November, the sacking of Mugabe's longtime ally and vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, was seen as a move to potentially clear the way for Grace Mugabe to succeed her 93-year-old husband.
Jekesai Njikizana/AFP/Getty Images
Mugabe arrives to preside over a student graduation ceremony at Zimbabwe Open University in November 2017. It was his first public appearance since the military <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/15/africa/gallery/zimbabwe-political-unrest/index.html" target="_blank">seized control of the nation</a> and placed him under house arrest.
Mugabe arrives to preside over a student graduation ceremony at Zimbabwe Open University in November 2017. It was his first public appearance since the military seized control of the nation and placed him under house arrest.
Ben Curtis/AP
Mugabe meets with generals in Harare in November 2017. Military leaders had been in talks with Mugabe over his exit.
Mugabe meets with generals in Harare in November 2017. Military leaders had been in talks with Mugabe over his exit.
STR/AP
Mugabe casts his vote in the 2018 Zimbabwe elections.
Mugabe casts his vote in the 2018 Zimbabwe elections.
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