Burundi’s President Ushers In Dramatic Policy Shift on Covid-19
- Sworn in last month, Ndayishimiye calls virus ‘biggest enemy’
- Ndayishimiye took over after death in office of predecessor
Evariste Ndayishimiye
Photographer: Tchandrou Nitanga/AFP via Getty Images
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Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye declared the coronavirus pandemic the country’s “biggest enemy” and pledged to make testing widely available, marking a dramatic shift from earlier government policy advising citizens to rely on prayers.
Ndayishimiye was sworn in less than two weeks ago following the death in office of his predecessor, Pierre Nkurunziza, who died aged 55 after suffering a heart attack. Nkurunziza’s government had largely ignored the dangers of the pandemic, saying the country was being protected by God, and expelled four World Health Organization officials in May.