Burundi expels WHO’s experts
Burundi has ordered the expulsion of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) expert team backing the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, just days before a presidential election.
The foreign ministry, in a letter to the WHO’s Africa headquarters and seen by AFP on Wednesday, said the UN agency’s representative in Burundi and his three colleagues “are declared persona non grata and … must leave the territory of Burundi” by Friday.
The directive, dated May 12, expels Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo; the country’s WHO coronavirus co-ordinator, Dr Jean Pierre Mulunda Nkata; communicable diseases head Dr Ruhana Mirindi Bisimwa; and a laboratory expert in the testing for Covid-19, Daniel Tarzy.
WHO Africa director Matshidiso Moeti confirmed on Thursday that he had been notified of the government decision via a diplomatic note.
“We are in communication with the government of Burundi to clarify and understand the reasoning behind this decision they have taken.
“We are in the meantime then working to organise the departure of our staff.”
The letter does not provide a reason for the decision.
Diplomatic and administrative sources say the foreign ministry aborted a similar attempt to expel the same four officials a month ago.
“They are expelled and the health minister has totally excluded WHO, accusing it of unacceptable interference in its management of the coronavirus,” a Burundian official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
LOOMING ELECTION
The announcement comes just days before Burundians go to the polls on May 20 to choose a new president, parliamentarians and local officials.
The country has officially recorded 27 cases and one death from the coronavirus.
But it has taken few precautions against the disease and testing is low, fuelling concern that the true extent of the outbreak is not known.
A health ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said seven patients were admitted to hospital at one institution with symptoms such as respiratory distress and had not been tested and “a whole wing has been dedicated to them at the military hospital”.
A doctor, also seeking anonymity, reported six deaths of patients “presenting all the symptoms of coronavirus” last week. A resident of the capital recounted that her neighbour, who had a fever and respiratory problems, was refused a test. “This man … died at home last week,” she said.
Meanwhile, the National Institute of Public Health, the only place carrying out tests, has had six of its staff responsible for taking samples fall sick with the virus. “Since then all activity is paralysed, no test can be carried out, it is a catastrophe,” an employee of the institute confirmed to AFP, on condition of anonymity.
Rights groups say the government is pressing ahead with the vote no matter the cost, and accuse the ruling party and its youth wing of crushing dissent and threatening those taking their own measures against coronavirus.
Officials in Burundi have cited divine protection for the country’s ostensibly low infection rate and urged citizens to go about their daily lives without fear.
“Do not be afraid. God loves Burundi and if there are people who have tested positive, it is so that God may manifest his power in Burundi,” said Gen Evariste Ndayishimiye, the presidential candidate for the ruling CNDD-FDD party.