Burundi – Burundi’s newly elected president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, has been sworn in two months earlier than planned.
No foreign heads of state were present when he took oath of office in the administrative capital, Gitega, where he pledged to defend the nation’s interests and unify its citizens.
The fast-tracked ceremony comes after President Pierre Nkurunziza died last week.
Ndayishimiye was backed by his predecessor and was declared the winner of May’s presidential election, which the opposition said was rigged.
Nkurunziza died at the age of 55 on June 8 after suffering cardiac arrest, said the government. There are unconfirmed reports that he was suffering from Covid-19.
Nkurunziza was due to step down after 15 years in power.
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