President Evariste Ndayishimiye faces a daunting diplomatic task ahead as he works to mend relations with neighbouring countries and the international community if he is to rescue Burundi’s struggling economy.

The United States and European Union suspended direct aid to Burundi in 2015 when the political crisis erupted after the then president Pierre Nkurunziza vied for another deemed unconstitutional.

Burundi was hit by political crisis in 2015 that forced thousands to flee the country mainly the opposition members who denounced former president’s move to run for another term in the office.

Burundi’s political space had shrunk under Nkurunziza and the new president on his first day expressed intentions to open up the political space, and justice for all Burundians.

Like Nkurunziza, President Ndayishimiye is a former Hutu rebel from Burundi’s civil war.