Burundi: New president sparks cautious hope of change

New president Evariste Ndayishimiye, a former militia fighter and army general, was sworn in on 18 June, ten days after the death of Pierre Nkurunziza. The succession had created some uncertainty, as according to the constitution, Pascal Nyabenda, speaker of the National Assembly, should have taken over on the death of the president, but Ndayishimiye was already president elect, having won elections in May, and had been due to be sworn in in August. Following a ruling by the Constitutional Court, Ndayishimiye’s inauguration was brought forward.