Burundi’s newly-elected president Evariste Ndayishimiye swear in ceremony confirmed

Burundi’s newly-elected president Evariste Ndayishimiye. PHOTO | AFP

Burundi’s newly-elected president Evariste Ndayishimiye will be sworn in on Thursday, in a function carried for the sudden death of the incumbent, Pierre Nkurunziza.

Nkurunziza died on June 8 aged 55, of what authorities said was heart failure.

The foreign ministry invited diplomats and foreign organisations to “take part in the inauguration ceremony” in the capital Gitega, in a letter sent out on Monday.

Ndayishimiye, 52, a former army general and Hutu rebel like his predecessor, had been handpicked by the powerful ruling CNDD-FDD to run in a May 20 presidential election.

He won the vote with 68.7 percent, and an opposition bid to have the results reversed due to alleged cheating was upturned just days before Nkurunziza’s death.