Burundi’s newly elected president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, has been sworn in two months earlier than planned.
No foreign heads of state were present when he took the oath of office in the administrative capital, Gitega, where he pledged to defend the nation’s interests and unify its citizens.
The fast-tracked ceremony comes after his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza died suddenly last week.
Mr Ndayishimiye is a former rebel leader, like Mr Nkurunziza.
He was backed by his predecessor and was declared the winner of May’s presidential election, which the opposition said was rigged.
