- Title: Burundi's ex-president to be buried in state funeral
- Date: 26th June 2020
- Summary: GOZI, BURUNDI (MAY 20, 2020) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** THEN-BURUNDI PRESIDENT, PIERRE NKURUNZIZA, ARRIVING AT VOTING CENTRE ON A BICYCLE / NZURUNZIZA SANITISING HIS HANDS VARIOUS OF NKURUNZIZA QUEUING FOR BALLOT PAPERS PEOPLE VOTING NKURUNZIZA PLACING BALLOT PAPERS IN BALLOT BOXES BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI (FILE - AUGUST 26, 2010) (REUTERS) FORMER BURUNDIAN PRESIDENT, DOMITIEN NDAYIZEYE, LOOKING ON RWANDAN PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME AND ANOTHER DELEGATE WATCHING CEREMONY (SOUNDBITE) (French) BURUNDI'S PRESIDENT, PIERRE NKURUNZIZA, SAYING: "I, Pierre Nkurunziza, president of the republic of Burundi, I solemnly swear that I will be faithful to the national chart of unity, to the constitution of the Republic of Burundi and the law that requires me to defend with all my being the best interests of the nation, to provide national security, to provide cohesion amongst Burundians, to provide peace and social justice." NGOZI, BURUNDI (FILE - MAY 17, 2018) (REUTERS) THEN-BURUNDIAN PRESIDENT PIERRE NKURUNZIZA AT VOTING CENTRE NKURUNZIZA VOTING
- Embargoed: 10th July 2020 11:50
- Keywords: Burundi Gitega stadium Pierre Nkurunziza buried state funeral
- Location: GITEGA, BUJUMBURA AND GOZI, BURUNDI
- City: GITEGA, BUJUMBURA AND GOZI, BURUNDI
- Country: Burundi
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA005CK0BUPZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of Burundians arrived at a stadium in the capital Gitega on Friday (June 26) to attend the funeral of former president Pierre Nkurunziza.
Nkurunziza, who ruled the country for 15 years, died at the aged 55 on June 9, of what the government said was "heart failure".
His body is expected to be escorted under heavy security for a state funeral after his sudden death earlier this month.
Few in the crowds filling the stadium were wearing face masks. Most were dressed in white, as requested by the authorities.
Mourner Beatrice Ntizikumwe, wept as she said: "He was a man who made us happy but thank God we can hold on to the memory."
Burundi's economy is mired in poverty and cut off by international donors after the United Nations documented the widespread rape, torture and murder of political opponents by ruling party activists and state security forces.
Nkurunziza had been due to stand down in August, making way for retired general Evariste Ndayishimiye who won an election last month and was sworn into power on June 18 in Gitega.
(Production: Guy-Clovis Siboniyo, Nazanine Moshiri, Paul Warren) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
