This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
On Thursday, Burundi's newly elected president Evariste Ndayishimiye will be sworn in, marking a significant shift in the country's leadership following the sudden death of his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza on June 8, 2020.
Ndayishimiye was elected in May 2020, in a vote disputed by the opposition, and was initially set to take office in August. However, his inauguration was expedited after Nkurunziza's death.
The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Ingoma Stadium in Gitega, the administrative capital, with diplomats and representatives of international organizations in attendance. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi is expected to be the only head of state present.
Nkurunziza, who ruled Burundi for 15 often tumultuous years, died of a heart attack, according to the government. However, speculation surrounds the possibility that he may have contracted the coronavirus, given that his wife was flown to a Nairobi hospital for treatment just two weeks prior to his death.
A medical source revealed that Nkurunziza had suffered from respiratory distress before his passing.
Under Nkurunziza's leadership, Burundi took few measures to combat the coronavirus, unlike its neighboring countries. The country also expelled a team of World Health Organization experts who were supporting the country's response to the epidemic.
Carina Tertsakian of the Burundi Human Rights Initiative described Nkurunziza's legacy as "dark and sad," citing his 2015 run for a third term in office, which sparked protests and a failed coup, resulting in at least 1,200 deaths and the displacement of 400,000 people.
United Nations human rights investigators have accused state forces of committing crimes against humanity, including extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, disappearances, torture, and sexual violence, during the period since 2015.
Ndayishimiye, a former army general and Hutu rebel, was handpicked by the ruling CNDD-FDD party to run in the May 20 presidential election. He won with 68.7% of the vote, despite opposition allegations of fraud.
Observers believe that Ndayishimiye's presidency may bring more independence, as he is not a regime hardliner and is reputed to be more tolerant and open than his predecessor.
