This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
Published on June 18, 2020, Burundi's newly elected president Evariste Ndayishimiye will be sworn in today, following the sudden death of his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza, who left the nation in political and economic turmoil.
Ndayishimiye was elected in May, in a vote disputed by the opposition, and was initially set to take office in August. However, his inauguration was expedited after Nkurunziza's sudden death.
The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Ingoma Stadium in Gitega, the administrative capital, with the public asked to arrive early to allow time for coronavirus measures.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, diplomats and representatives of international organizations have been invited, with Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi expected to be the only head of state in attendance.
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 weeks prior.
A medical source revealed that Nkurunziza had suffered from respiratory distress before his death.
Under Nkurunziza's leadership, Burundi took a relatively lax approach to combating the virus, with the country expelling a team of World Health Organization experts who were supporting the country's response to the epidemic last month.
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.
