[Iran Press TV] Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza has been sworn into office for a controversial third term in a surprise inauguration ceremony, amid persisting protests against his new tenure.In a statement issued on Thursday, Burundi's presidential office, said Nkurunziza took the "oath for a new term of five years" in a ceremony, which was made public only hours after being held.
During the inauguration ceremony, Nkurunziza swore loyalty to the constitution, vowing to dedicate all his "forces to the defense of the best interests of the nation, to assure national unity and the cohesion of the Burundian people, social peace and justice."
Nkurunziza won an outright victory in last month's presidential election after grabbing 69.41 percent of the votes.
This is while Nkurunziza's third term has widely been censured as unconstitutional by the country's opposition, prompting months of violent protest rallies that has so far claimed more than 90 lives.