Burundi
Burundi changes tack as president declares COVID-19 'biggest enemy'
Former president Pierre Nkurunziza, who died suddenly last month, and even Ndayishimiye himself, had until now downplayed the gravity of the pandemic, saying...
Pierre Nkurunziza, who ruled the country for 15 years, died at the aged of 55 of what the government said was "heart failure".
Evariste Ndayishimiye won last month’s presidential election as the ruling party’s candidate, defeating the opposition’s Agathon Rwasa and five others.
Ndayishimiye was elected in May in a vote disputed by the opposition, and was meant to take office in August, however, the inauguration was sped up after his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza's shock death.
In a letter addressed to diplomats and foreign organisations on Monday, the ministry invited them to 'take part in the inauguration ceremony" in the capital Gitega'.
Pierre Nkurunziza's death on Monday, aged 55, came after the May election of his successor Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was meant to be inaugurated in August.
Nkurunziza, who died on Monday aged 55, had been due to step down in August after his surprise decision not to run in an election last month won by the ruling party's handpicked successor.
Evariste Ndayishimiye, elected last month to replace Nkurunziza, is on the frontline as the country navigates its latest challenge.
A statement from Burundi's presidency on Tuesday said Pierre Nkurunziza was hospitalised over the weekend and that his health "abruptly changed" on Monday.
The ruling CNDD-FDD party’s candidate, retired general Evariste Ndayishimiye, was running against opposition leader Agathon Rwasa and five others.
On Monday the electoral commission announced that ruling party candidate Evariste Ndayishimiye had won the vote with 68.72% while opposition leader Agathon Rwasa's National Freedom Council (CNL) trailed with 24.19%.
Election officials on Monday declared Evariste Ndayishimiye, a former army general chosen by the powerful ruling party as heir to Nkurunziza, the winner of the May 20 poll with 68.72% of the vote.
Evariste Ndayishimiye is a former army general who was handpicked by the ruling CNDD-FDD to replace President Pierre Nkurunziza, who has been in power since 2005 and whose final years in office have been wracked with turmoil.
Burundians voted last Wednesday to elect their president, lawmakers and local officials in a poll marked by allegations of fraud and conducted with scant attention to the coronavirus pandemic.
Burundians voted on Wednesday to elect their president, lawmakers and local officials in a poll marked by allegations of fraud and conducted with scant attention to the coronavirus pandemic.
The election marks the end of Pierre Nkurunziza’s often tumultuous reign, after the president announced he would not run again after 15 years in power.
Electors are being called out after five years of turmoil sparked by Nkurunziza's bid for a disputed third term, which unleashed unrest that left at least 1,200 dead and saw 400,000 flee the country.
Officials in Burundi have cited divine protection for the country's ostensibly low infection rate and urged citizens to go about their daily lives without fear.
President Pierre Nkurunziza is stepping down, although he intends to remain a prominent force in the impoverished East African nation.