Burundi has just expelled the entire World Health Organization (WHO) team in charge of supporting it in the fight against covid-19. The official letter does not justify this decision. But two reasons are given anonymously: they allegedly embezzled an amount of $700,000. Another source speaks of interference in the management of covid-19.
The expelled personalities are the WHO Representative in Burundi, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the national coronavirus coordinator, Dr Jean Pierre Mulunda Nkata, the communicable diseases manager, Dr Ruhana Mirindi Bisimwa, and a laboratory expert in the field of covid-19 screening, Professor Daniel Tarzy.
The note verbale addressed to the WHO Representative in Africa does not specify the reason(s) for the expulsion, which gives these international officials 48 hours in which to respond.
The international press finds a link between this decision and the management of the coronavirus during the presidential campaign period in Burundi. During the meetings of both the CNDD candidate, Evariste Ndayishimiye, and the CNL candidate, Agathon Rwasa, social distancing is not respected while people respond en masse. The WHO is said to have reproached the authorities of the Ministry of Health. The latter would have judged this intervention to be interference.
However, another anonymous source states that there is a problem of embezzlement of $700,000. “This amount was intended to buy a mobile laboratory,” this source from Burundi reveals. “This lab was never delivered to the Ministry of Health,” the source added. “As they have the status of diplomats, they have diplomatic immunity,” it said. It explains that the rest of the case will be handled from Geneva, Switzerland, at WHO headquarters.
The WHO Representative in Burundi and the three experts are expected to leave the country on 15 May 2020. The plane to evacuate them to Geneva should be prepared by WHO. But the Melchior Ndadaye airport in Bujumbura is closed.
Gérard Rugambwa
