The new Burundian President, Maj. Gen. Evariste Ndayishimiye was sworn on Thursday for Burundi for a seven-year term in office, following his election on May 2.

Ndayishimiye, 52, who was elected on May 20, was initially scheduled to take office in August this year, but the ceremony was fast-tracked to fill the leadership vacuum created by the sudden death of the then outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza.

After 15 years in power, President Nkurunziza died on June 8 aged 55 due to a cardiac arrest, the government of Burundi said.

This led to the intervention of the Burundian constitutional court, which last week ruled that Ndayishimiye takes office earlier than had been stipulated.

Ndayishimiye also the Secretary-General of the ruling party, CNDD-FDD (National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy) takes oath of office after he won last month's election with 68.70% of the votes where he defeated six other candidates.