Burundi's constitutional court puts president-elect in charge

Burundi’s Constitutional Court announced on Friday that the country’s president-elect would take charge of the country's affairs.

This comes four days after the death of sitting president Pierre Nkurunziza, who died of a heart attack on June 8.

Evariste Ndayishimiye, who won the presidential election in May, was due to take over in August, but would be sworn in as soon as possible, the court said at a press conference.

A date for the ceremony has not yet been given.

Nkurunziza, who had ruled the tiny East African country since 2005, died suddenly on Tuesday of cardiac arrest at the age of 55

(dpa/NAN)