Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe has resigned, citing health reasons.
Abe, who is the longest-serving Japanese prime minister announced his resignation during a press conference on Friday stating that he decided to step down even though there is one year to go in his tenure and many challenges to be met.
However, he apologized to the people of Japan for not being able to fulfil his duties, It was gathered that Abe suffers from a non-curable inflammatory bowel disease known as colitis.
The disease was also a factor in his sudden resignation as prime minister in 2007 thereby ending his first term after just over a year in office.
Abe, who was said to have visited Keio University Hospital in Tokyo for the second time in a week revealed that for almost eight years he controlled his chronic disease.
He stated that in June he had a regular check-up and there was a sign of the disease adding that he needs to fight against the disease and need to be treated.
You will recall that Abe was re-elected in 2012 following his previous resignation in 2007 and since then he has been the dominant force in Japanese politics.