Former BBC reporter Chris Simpson dies aged 53

Former BBC correspondent Chris Simpson has died unexpectedly in Senegal at the age of 53.

He worked for the BBC in Angola during the civil war in the 1990s, in Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide and was also posted to Senegal and the Central African Republic in the 2000s.

“His wit, intelligence and creativity has been lost,” his sister Bridget Taylor told the BBC.

“He still had so much to offer and he was planning to write a book about his experiences.

“He was truly an international guy who could get on with anyone – and he had friends across Africa.”

Chris was found dead in his apartment in Dakar – the cause of death is unclear.