The African nation’s Lansana Conte passed away following a long illness. Conte has ruled Guinea with an iron fist since grabbing power in a 1984 coup. He was believed to be in his 70s. National Assembly leader Aboubacar Sompare said on national television around 2 a.m. Tuesday that Conte died Monday evening. He said that Conte has long been suffering from health problems.

The National Assembly President Sompare said that for many years Conte ”hide his physical suffering in order to give happiness to Guinea”.