In 2017, Burundi became the first country to withdraw from the International Criminal Court after being accused of committing crimes against humanity. Burundi also closed offices of the United Nations on human rights, and in May expelled officials from the World Health Organization.
Last week, four journalists were imprisoned to terms of two-and-a-half years for investigating political unrest in the northwest of the country.

Mudge said the human rights situation may not improve with the passing of Nkurunziza.
“I don’t think we are going to see much change with the death of Nkurunziza with regards to the human rights standard. It went beyond one individual. So, I think we are unfortunately looking at dark days ahead,” said Mudge.

Nelleke van de Walle, deputy director for central Africa at the International Crisis Group, said the future of Burundi depends on what the political system left behind by Nkurunziza will do in the coming months.

“He was expected to remain influential because he was appointed supreme guide of patriotism, so it was likely that he continued to play a role in the political scene in Burundi with his death. It's possible that Evariste has more freedom of movement to act more independently. But then again, Nkurunziza is only one man, and his rule was underpinned by a political system, and that system is very much in place,” she said.

For now, the speaker of parliament will be in charge of the affairs of the state, until the president-elect is sworn in on August 20.