The government of Burundi has expelled the top World Health Organization (WHO) representative and three other experts who were coordinating the Coronavirus response in the country.
Those expelled are WHO’s representative Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the country’s Coronavirus coordinator Dr Jean Pierre Mulunda Nkata, communicable diseases head Dr Ruhana Mirindi Bisimwa, and a laboratory expert in the testing for COVID-19, Professor Daniel Tarzy.
In a letter dated May 12 and addressed to WHO’s Africa headquarters, the foreign ministry stated that the four officials “are declared persona non grata and as such, must leave the territory of Burundi” by Friday, May 15.
No reason was given for the expulsion, but a Burundian official told AFP news agency, “It is the whole WHO team responsible for supporting Burundi in its response against COVID-19.”
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has described the move as “unfortunate” at a time when greater cooperation was needed to tackle the virus on the continent.
Africa CDC director John Nkengasong emphasized the importance of technical expertise, stating, “We are in dire need of technical expertise as a continent, which has a very weak health system and fragile infrastructure, where we don’t have the luxury of kicking out WHO.”
This expulsion comes just days before Burundians are expected to choose a new president, parliamentarians, and local officials. The country has officially recorded 27 cases and one death from COVID-19.