Burundis President Pierre Nkurunziza swore in a new cabinet Tuesday following his re-election to a controversial third term. Members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party were given 15 of 20 spots, including the key posts leading the ministries of defense, the interior, finance and foreign affairs. The selections came as little surprise to opponents who believe Nkurunziza violated constitutional term limits to stay in office. A group of prominent Burundians, including a former vice president and a former speaker of parliament, have said they will not recognize Nkurunziza as president after his current term expires Wednesday. Violence and political unrest prompted more than 180,000 Burundians to flee the country in the months after the president announced his re-election bid in April. He won the July election with 69 percent of the vote. The U.S. and other countries have demanded the president begin a dialogue with opponents to keep the country stable. Innocent Muhozi, general manager of a banned Burundian radio and television network, told VOA Monday that he does not see anything inclusive in the new government, and that it would be impossible to have a government of national unity in Burundi at the moment. The other five spots in the new cabinet went to allies of Agathon Rwasa, a Nkurunziza rival who split with other opposition groups after the election to take a top seat in parliament.
