Burundi deports WHO director: Burundi has deported the World Health Organisation (WHO) national head from a presidential election campaign where candidates have pushed forward with large rallies regardless of the risk of the COVID 19 pandemic.
The country’s Government today confirmed that a letter dated May 12 from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs was sent to the WHO country head Mr Walter Kazandi Mulombo and their three aides ordering them to be out of Burundi by tomorrow.
The election for a replacement of President Pierre Nkurunziza whose Government has been constantly suspected of human rights abuse, has in recent times deported other representatives of international bodies.
President Nkurunziza’s Government is said to be due on May 20 when the elections take place in the country.
The assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Bernard Ntahiraja confirmed that the WHO officials have been deported and were declared “persona non grata”.
However, Mr Ntahiraja did not give reasons as to why the WHO officials were deported from the country.
Futhermore, there was no instant response from the WHO, which is an agency of the United Nations, pertaining to the deportation of their officials.
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Currently, Burundi has recorded comparatively low cases of the novel coronavirus. The country has 27 infections and one death.
Campaigns for the presidential and parliamentary elections in Burundi formally stated on the 27th of April and they are expected to last for 21 days, a period that will see the seven presidential candidates contesting for the voters’ support.
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Conflicts among the opposition followers and the ruling party’s youth league the Imbonerakure have been reported throughout the country during the political gatherings, especially in the provinces of Ngozi, Kirundo, Kayanza, Bujumbura and Gitega.
According to the Government of Burundi, at least two people were murdered in the first week of the campaigns with 26 getting injured.
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