After the death of Pierre Nkurunziza, a period of uncertainty opens for Burundi

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After the death of Pierre Nkurunziza on June 8 in a hospital in the center of the country, officially of a “cardiac arrest”, the Burundians are in shock and do not hide their concern. The government has not yet said anything about the funeral of Pierre Nkurunziza or the period which opens and the Constitution of Burundi has not provided for the specific case of the death of an outgoing president after the election of his successor.

Publicity

First to try to rush into this breach, the National Congress for Freedom (CNL) of Agathon Rwasa, the unfortunate opponent of the elected president, who continues to denounce "  an electoral heist  ". The main Burundian opposition party stresses that this is a “  permanent vacancy  ”. He therefore calls for "  strict compliance with the Constitution  ", namely an interim appointment by the President of the National Assembly, Pascal Nyabenda, who will then be entrusted with a single mission according to the CNL: to organize "  a new presidential election in a one to three month delay  ”.

"  Ridiculous  ", reacts a senior official of the ruling party, who recalls that Pierre Nkurunziza was practically at the end of his mandate and that the victory of Évariste Ndayishimiye has just been validated by the Constitutional Court. "  The government must contact the Constitutional Court to find out about the vacancy  ," the source said, explaining that the Crisis Committee set up plans to move the date for the swearing in of General Évariste Ndayihimiye "  to avoid a long transition and to cut off any speculation  ”. It could go quickly. "  We want the president-elect to mourn the Burundian people  ," said the same source.

Dangerous immobility

Officially, the transfer of powers is set for August 20. "  It is a very long period of immobility which could be synonymous with all the dangers,  " said a relative of the president-elect, who recalled the many challenges that the new head of state must face quickly.

Finally, an analyst points to the new equilibrium which must be established after the disappearance of Pierre Nkurunziza, between the different generals, members of the "junta" which controls the country with an iron fist. "  Ndayishimiye has an interest in quickly accessing the presidency, to cut the grass under the feet of possible internal competitors,  " said this analyst.

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• Burundi
• Pierre Nkurunziza

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