Burundi expels WHO official, three other health experts

The Government of Burundi has expelled the Who Health Organisation (WHO) representative in the country and three other health experts.

This is coming as Burundi government is facing criticism for organising elections amid the coronavirus pandemic. Presidential campaign rallies are taking place across the nation ahead of the 20 May election.

WHO's representative Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, Prof Tarzy Daniel, Dr Ruhana Mirindi Bisimwa and Dr Jean Pierre Murunda have been declared as "persona non grata" and given them 48 hours to leave the country, according to an unsigned letter from the foreign affairs ministry.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, the International Crisis Group said the Burundi government is working in denial, questioning the number of coronavirus cases the country has announced.

The country has reported 15 cases so far including one death.[BBC]

#Burundi-Le Ministère des affaires étrangères du Burundi a adressé une note verbale au Bureau de la représentation de l'OMS pour l'Afrique, déclarant le représentant de l'OMS au Burundi et 3 experts "persona non grata" et "doivent quitter le territoire du Burundi avant le 15 mai" pic.twitter.com/0nkRFOj8Fz

— ABP (@ABPInfos) May 14, 2020