Africa News

Burundi court rules president-elect to take power after Nkurunzizas death

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Issued on: 12/06/2020 – 16:49Modified: 12/06/2020 – 16:49

Burundi's constitutional court on Friday ruled that the country's newly elected leader Evariste Ndayishimiye be sworn in following the sudden death of former leader Pierre Nkurunziza earlier this week.

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"No interim necessary, the president-elect… must be sworn in as soon as possible," presidential advisor Willy Nyamitwe wrote on Twitter of the court's announcement, which was also confirmed by the ruling party's information secretary.

Nkurunziza, who died on Monday aged 55, had been due to step down as Burundi's president in August after his surprise decision not to run in an election last month won by the ruling party's handpicked successor.

Under the country's constitution, the speaker of the National Assembly, Pascal Nyabenda, should take over in the event of the president dying.

However Nkurunziza's sudden death put Burundi in an unusual situation, sparking rumours and fears of renewed violence in the troubled East African nation.

The council of ministers on Thursday decided to ask the constitutional court for guidance.