Burundi’s new president to be sworn in

Burundi’s new president, Evariste Ndayishimiye is to be sworn today, two months earlier than originally planned.

This comes after Burundi’s previous leader, Pierre Nkurunziza, died suddenly last week of cardiac arrest.

The ceremony will be held publicly but will include temperature checks for attending members and enforce handwashing.

Mr Ndayishimiye was recommended by Pierre Nkurunziza to be his successor and was elected by the public to take over from the former president in August, but the process has now been accelerated due to Mr Nkurunziza’s untimely death.

Evariste Ndayishmiye had been a fellow rebel alongside the late President, and the two figures had remained close friends and political allies throughout their careers.

At the close of the civil war in 2003, Mr Ndayishmiye became the deputy army chief for Burundi, and then was appointed Minister for the Interior in 2006.

Critics fear that after a career built supporting the Pierre Nkurunziza, Mr Ndayishimiye will be simply a continuation of the former regime, rather than an instrument for much-needed reform.

Burundi currently has one of the worst Human Rights records of any nation in the world. President Nkurunziza has been accused of using torture, rape, and murder as political weapons against his critics. Mr Ndayishimiye has also been accused of providing the military muscle to prop the regime, and (according to the opposition) for rigging the election held earlier this year.

Mr Ndayishimiye is to be sworn in later today.

Photo: AFP