BURUNDI: Cabinet meeting which sat on Thursday failed to agree on an interim President following the death of President Pierre Nkurunziza.
In a cabinet meeting chaired by the First Vice-President, Gaston Sindimwo, on June 11, cabinet agreed to refer the issue to the apex court.
Cabinet wants the court “to declare the vacancy of the post of President of the Republic following the death of Pierre Nkurunziza,” a tweet by the VP’s office said.
Constitutionally, Pascal Nyabenda, the Leader of the Burundi National Assembly is expected to take over the acting role of the president. However, there are power struggles from different military Generals fostering the President- elect Evariste Ndayishimiye alias Neva to take over.
Anonymous Ministerial source revealed that there are power struggles between different political blocs based on both political and tribal lines. The source added that there is a fear of civil war uprise in the country.
Owing to the power struggles which created disagreements on who should be appointed an interim president, cabinet agreed to refer the matter to court to seek for constitutional interpretation on how to proceed over the power vacuum. This will pave the way for the appointment of a replacement for the former president.
Nkurunziza who died on June 8th was due to handover power in August to Evariste Ndayishimiye who won May 2020 elections.
His death created power vacuum in the East Africa’s country of Burundi.
