Africa

New Burundi leader sworn in after president died

Burundi’s newly elected president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, has been sworn in two months earlier than planned.

No foreign heads of state were present when he took the oath of office in the administrative capital, Gitega, where he pledged to defend the nation’s interests and unify its citizens.

The fast-tracked ceremony comes after his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza died suddenly last week.

Mr Ndayishimiye is a former rebel leader, like Mr Nkurunziza.

He was backed by his predecessor and was declared the winner of May’s presidential election, which the opposition said was rigged.

Mr Nkurunziza died aged 55 on June 8, after suffering a cardiac arrest, the government said. There are unconfirmed reports that he was suffering from COVID-19.

After 15 years in power, Mr Nkurunziza was due to step down in August.

People attending the inauguration were told to arrive early to allow time for temperature checks and other coronavirus measures – but once in the stadium there was no social distancing.

“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,” Mr Ndayishimiye said while taking his oath, reports the Reuters news agency.

According to Burundi’s constitution, if the head of state dies in office then the president of the national assembly, currently Pascal Nyabenda, should succeed him.

But after a ruling by Burundi’s Constitutional Court, Mr Ndayishimiye’s inauguration in Gitega was brought forward.

The 52-year-old army general is regarded as a “humble” and “religious” man.

He has been among the most influential generals since 2005, when his close friend and colleague in rebellion, Pierre Nkurunziza took power.

Mr Ndayishimiye, commonly known as “Neva”, was a law student in the University of Burundi when the civil war erupted in 1993 following the assassination of President Melchior Ndadaye.

Like his predecessor Mr Nkurunziza, in 1995, Mr Ndayishimiye survived an attack on ethnic Hutu students at his campus in the then-capital Bujumbura.

He then fled the country and joined the rebel force that was formed to fight the then Tutsi-led government.

Mr Ndayishimiye worked closely with Mr Nkurunziza during the Arusha peace talks between the government and the FDD rebels. -Reuters

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