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Burundi gets a successor to Pierre Nkurunziza

Evariste Ndayishimiye has been sworn in two months earlier than planned folowing the sudden death of his predecessor

President-elect Evariste Ndayishimiye was sworn in at a colourful ceremony in Burundi’s political capital, Gitega, on Thursday, 18 June.

He succeeds Pierre Nkurunziza as the country’s new head of state after the former president’s sudden death on 8 June.

At the swearing-in, the former rebel leader said he will do his best to unify all citizens and promised to defend Burundi’s interests.

Ndayishimiye was declared the winner of the presidential election in May. The election was held amid a surge of novel coronavirus infections and the opposition claimed it was rigged, but Ndayishimiye received the backing of his predecessor.

Fast-tracked passage to power

President Ndayishimiye’s inauguration was originally scheduled to take place two months from now but officials fast-tracked it.

The death of his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza before a proper handing-over was completely unexpected.

Nkurunziza died of cardiac arrest at the age of 58 after being in power for 15 years. He had been due to step down in August.

President Ndayishimiye’s fast-tracked swearing-in was not attended by any foreign head of state.

Hundreds of Burundians however trooped to the Ingoma Stadium in Gitega to witness the ceremony. All spectators went through a temperature check and other COVID-19 preventive measures before entering the premises.

Against genocide

Taking the oath, Ndayishimiye pledged to fight against genocide and discrimination.

He was a student when the civil war erupted in Burundi in1993 after the assassination of President Melchior Ndadaye.

And having served as an army general for the better part of his life, Ndayishimiye said he will ensure that the constitution is upheld at all times.

“I will not fail the unity charter, the constitution and other laws, will uphold unity among Burundians, peace and justice for all, [and] fight the ideology of genocide and discrimination,” he said.

E A Alanore

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Source
BBC News
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