Burundi

BUJUMBURA, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Burundi’s newly-elected president Evariste Ndayishimiye will be sworn in on Thursday, the foreign ministry announced, in a ceremony fast-tracked by the sudden death of the incumbent, Pierre Nkurunziza.

Nkurunziza died on June 8 aged 55, of what authorities said was heart failure.

His death came less than two weeks after his wife had been flown to a Nairobi hospital for treatment.

BUJUMBURA, June 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Burundi convened an extraordinary cabinet meeting Thursday to discuss a way forward after the sudden death of long-serving ruler Pierre Nkurunziza left many anxious over the future of the troubled country.

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

BUJUMBURA, June 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Burundi’s outgoing President, Pierre Nkurunziza, died of a heart attack at a hospital in east-central Burundi, a government statement issued here on Tuesday.

Nkurunziza watched a volleyball match in Ngozi Province in the afternoon of June 6, before being taken to a hospital in Karusi Province for treatment, as he felt discomfort in the evening, the statement said.

BUJUMBURA, Jan 27 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Burundi’s Gen. Evariste Ndayishimiye was on Sunday confirmed as the ruling party’s candidate in the May presidential elections.

The national conference for the ruling CNDD-FDD party in the rural province of Gitega is the latest proof that the country’s president Pierre Nkurunziza will now retire after serving three terms.

Nkurunziza will retire after presiding over a disputed third term that sparked violence and forced hundreds of thousands to flee the tiny central African country.

BUJUMBURA, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Burundi’s president has again indicated he will not run for another term next year in the politically volatile East African nation.

Pres Pierre Nkurunziza told reporters he planned to hold another press conference “before handing power to our successor.”

His insistence on running again in 2015 led to deadly political turmoil and allegations by human rights groups of widespread abuses. The government later became the first country to withdraw from the International Criminal Court as the government rejected criticism of its actions.

RUMONGE, Burundi, Sept 21 (NNN-XINHUA) – The China-aided Ruzibazi hydro-power station project, located in Burundi’s Rumonge province, will expand bilateral cooperation, Burundian President, Pierre Nkurunziza, said Friday.

Nkurunziza made the remark when attending a construction commencement ceremony for the project held onsite.

The project, the largest China-aided project in Burundi so far, involves the building of a hydro-power station with an installed capacity of 15 megawatt.

BUJUMBURA, Burundi (AP) — It made history as the first country to quit the International Criminal Court. Then it kicked out the United Nations human rights office. Even as Burundi’s vice president asserts in a rare interview that the troubled country is now peaceful, reports of abuses are up ahead of next year’s election as some people worry President Pierre Nkurunziza will run for a fourth term.

BUJUMBURA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Nine people were killed and 16 others were injured on Saturday at a mining site in northern Burundi, after a mountain collapsed around midday due to heavy rain, a local official said Sunday.

The victims were helping miners remove earth at the foot of the mountain in Kabarore Commune, Kayanza Province, when the mountain suddenly collapsed, Kabarore administrator Victor Ntakarutimana told Xinhua in a telephone interview.

Four people in critical condition are receiving medical treatment at Kayanza Hospital, said Ntakarutimana.

BUJUMBURA, Burundi, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- China provides selfless assistance to help with Burundi's development and its people's livelihood, the Burundian foreign minister said Saturday.

The establishment of the diplomatic ties 55 years ago launched the sincere cooperation between the two countries, Burundian Foreign Minister Ezechiel Nibigira said at a reception celebrating the 55th anniversary of bilateral ties.