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Burundi has sworn in President elect Evariste Ndayishimiye on Thursday as successor to the deceased leader Nkurunziza.
Ndayishimiye takes over power two months after the sudden demise of his predecessor, Nkurunziza.
Evariste Ndayishimiye emerged President elect in May after running as the candidate of the ruling party in Burundi and the anointed candidate of Nkurunziza. Ndayishimiye was billed to be sworn in August but the abrupt death of the Nkurunziza created a void which needed to be filled.
The uncertainty created by the death of the former president led ministers to resort to the constitutional court which directed the President-elect be sworn in as soon as possible.
His swearing in marks the first swearing in of a president before the people in Burundi. It has always been before the nation’s parliament.
The atmosphere at the ceremony suggested it was business as usual in terms of the government’s belief that faith and prayer to God have eradicated corona virus from the country. Most people in the crowd neither wore face mask or observed social distancing.
The suspicion of Nkurunziza’s death being coronavirus related doesn’t seem to have impacted the country’s policy.
He was sworn in amid hope of a new era and break away from the status quo which were in effect during the reign of his predecessor. Some regional leaders and human right groups echoed this hope for transparent and people oriented administration.
South Africa in a statement said that “President (Cyril) Ramaphosa looks forward to working with President Evariste Ndayishimiye as he leads the people of Burundi to a better life.”
In a separate statement, Amnesty International called on Ndayishimiye to rein in the Imbonerakure youth wing of the ruling party, accused of killings and other abuses, and urged the immediate freeing of imprisoned journalists and others jailed for exercising their human rights.
Source: CGTN Africa
This post was written by Obiajulu Joel Nwolu.
The views expressed here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect our views and opinions.