Benin’s former president Mathieu Kerekou, who ruled the tiny west African nation for a total of 30 years after a coup then democratic elections, died on Wednesday, the government announced. He was 82.

“I announce with regret and deep sadness the death on Wednesday October 14 of President-General Mathieu Kerekou at about 1:30 pm (1230 GMT),” President Thomas Boni Yayi said in a statement.