It caught many by surprise when it was announced this week that Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza had passed on.

"On behalf of Gov't and my own behalf I sent our condolences to the Gov't and People of Burundi for the passing of President Nkurunziza.

Whether Burundi can heal from the turbulent leadership under Nkurunziza, Golooba says will depend on whether the new President shares aspirations and ideological orientation with Nkurunziza.

"This is a kind of victory to all the victims of Nkurunziza's leadership who have been saying 'you are not a good president, we have economic problems, corruption problems, health problems' that came as a result of his leadership," he told this publication in a phone interview.

Lonzen Rugira, a Rwandan political analyst, believes that the exit of Nkurunziza from the political landscape could give a maneuvering chance to the next president to set an agenda and open relations with neighbors.