Thu Sep 12 01:37:39 UTC 2024: ## Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori Dies at 86

**Lima, Peru** – Alberto Fujimori, the polarizing former president of Peru, died Wednesday at the age of 86. His daughter, Keiko Fujimori, announced his passing on social media, stating that he succumbed to a long battle with cancer.

Fujimori, a former agricultural engineer and university professor, rose to prominence in the 1990s. He gained international acclaim for his economic reforms that stabilized Peru’s economy and brought down rampant hyperinflation. He also successfully cracked down on the Maoist Shining Path rebel group, restoring order to the country.

However, his rule was also marked by controversy. Fujimori consolidated power through undemocratic means, suppressing dissent and weakening Peru’s democratic institutions. He was criticized for human rights abuses, most notably his involvement in the massacre of 25 people, including a child, by death squads acting on the government’s behalf.

In 2000, Fujimori fled Peru amidst a corruption scandal and spent five years in exile in Japan. He was extradited to Peru in 2007 and sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the aforementioned human rights abuses. He was released from prison in December 2017 on humanitarian grounds, but his legacy remains deeply divided.

Despite his controversial past, Fujimori retained a significant following in Peru. In July, his daughter Keiko announced his intention to run for president again in 2026, a move that further polarized Peruvian politics.

Alberto Fujimori’s death marks the end of an era in Peruvian politics. His legacy is complex and will continue to be debated for years to come.

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