Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, 78, resigns after nearly three decades in office

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced his shock resignation on Tuesday, 29 years after taking office.

“I have taken the decision to resign from the post of presidency,” the 78-year-old said in a speech broadcast on state television.

Nazarbayev came to power in oil-rich Kazakhstan when it was still a Soviet republic and has previously never indicated a successor.

“The mandate of the presidency will pass to the chairman of the senate for the remainder of my presidential term,” Nazarbayev said, referring to the constitution.

The senate chair position is currently held by Nazarbayev loyalist Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, 65, a former prime minister and career diplomat.

Nazarbayev’s term expires in March 2020.