Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori Dies at 86

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Alberto Fujimori, former president of Peru, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86 after battling cancer. His daughter, Keiko Fujimori, leader of the right-wing Fuerza Popular party, confirmed his death. Fujimori's presidency, from 1990 to 2000, was marked by a harsh crackdown on left-wing rebel groups and human rights violations, for which he served over 16 years in prison.

Fujimori gained popularity for his strict policies, particularly against the Maoist terrorist group Shining Path. However, his administration was also responsible for the forced sterilization of tens of thousands of indigenous women, a policy aimed at reducing their birth rates, which the government viewed as a hindrance to development.

In 2009, Fujimori was sentenced to 25 years in prison for human rights abuses, including the use of death squads. Though pardoned in 2017 by then-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, the decision was later overturned, and Fujimori was reimprisoned until his release in December 2023 for humanitarian reasons due to his declining health.

Fujimori’s children, Keiko, Hiro, Sachie, and Kenji, shared the news of their father’s death online, honoring his long battle with illness and his controversial legacy in Peruvian history.