Burundi: Evariste Ndayishimye sworn in as new president

AFP | Evariste Ndayishimiye was sworn in as Burundi’s new president at a colourful ceremony on Thursday, taking the helm of the country after the sudden death of his predecessor, Pierre Nkurunziza.

Ndayishimiye pledged to “devote all my force to defending the superior interests of the nation and ensure the national unity and cohesion of the Burundian people, peace and social justice.”

Before taking the oath, Ndayishimiye surrounded by the leaders of the Catholic, Anglican, evangelical and Muslim faiths, who prayed for him.

“Understand that you are a son of God and as such must bring peace among Burundians, you know how much we need it,” said the Catholic archbishop of Gitega, Simon Ntamwana.

“Bring back to our country the refugees in the camps, bring back the intellectuals in exile so that they can take part in the development of our country, renew ties with the international community so they can help us develop,” he said.

Nkurunziza, who governed the East African nation for 15 often tumultuous years, died of a heart attack last week.

However the 55-year-old took ill less than 2 weeks after his wife had been flown to a Nairobi hospital for treatment for COVID-19, according to a medical document seen by reporters, and speculation is rife he may have caught the virus.