Gen. Evariste Ndayishimiye, the newly elected Burundi President should be sworn in as fast as possible to fill the leadership vacuum following the death of Pierre Nkurunziza, the constitutional court has Friday decided.
An extraordinary cabinet meeting sitting Thursday presided over by the First Vice President Gaston Sindimwo in Bujumbura resolved to seek Court’s position on who should take charge of the Presidency considering that the nation had already voted a leader.
The cabinet further discussed a way forward after the tragic passing of outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza who was due to step down on August 20.
Ndayishimiye was selected by the ruling party- CNDD-FDD as the flagbearer following Nkurunziza’s proclamation that he would be stepping down from Presidency after serving 15 years in leadership.
Burundi, on May 20 voted for President and Ndayishimiye won with 68%. However, his victory was contested by Agathon Rwasa, his closest opponent in the Constitutional Court.
But Court ruled: the petition filed by Mr. Agathon Rwasa and CNL party was admissible, but partly unfounded.
Court further said the allegations raised by Rwasa couldn’t influence the results of the election even if they were founded.
Therefore, Gen. Ndayishimiye was again announced by Court as Burundi’s duly elected President waiting to receive instruments of power on August 20, in what would be a historic peaceful transition witnessed after 58 years of independence.
Looming Political Crisis?
But June 8, a tragedy befell the East Africa’s smallest nation with the sudden deahth of Pierre Nkurunziza, a renowned sportsman jogging to assume the position of “supreme guide to patriotism” with $540,000 retirement package and a luxury palace.
Official government channels relate his death to cardiac arrest while a section of experts pronounced otherwise.
The big concern which catapulted after the death of Nkurunziza is ‘who in charge of country?’ leaving anxiety over the future of Burundi.
Article 121 of the Burundi’s Constitution says in case of a vacancy because of demission, death or any other causes of a definitive end to his functions, the interim will be assured by the President of the National Assembly (Speaker) or, if he is also impeded from exercising his functions.
Contention
In a rare turn of events, Burundi had already elected a President ready to be sworn in.
This, therefore prompted cabinet to convene an extraordinary meeting on Thursday in Bujumbura chaired by the First Vice President Gaston Sindimwo to study how to swear in Gen. Ndayishimiye.
This website has obtained a cabinet paper which was subjected to discussion for close to 4 hours until a consensus was reached to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court for pronouncement.
Charles Ndagijimana, the president of the Constitutional Court is expected to issue his ruling over the matter as soon as possible, a high ranking official told us on Thursday evening.
Approval
A panel of 7 constitutional judges judges has Friday delivered a decision approving the immediate swearing in of Gen. Ndayishimiye as Nkurunziza’s successor.
Court also advised that there shouldn’t be an interim President to steer Presidency until August 20 but rather hand over instruments of power to Ndayishimiye to kick off his Presidential term.
