BUBANZA, February 7th (ABP) – On Wednesday, 5 February 2025, Burundi celebrated the 34th anniversary of the Charter of National Unity. Ceremonies were held in all the country’s provinces.
In Bubanza province (north-west), they were highlighted by the Minister of Communication, Information Technologies and Media, Léocadie Ndacayisaba.
She urged the local people to be doubly vigilant in safeguarding the unity, peace and security that have been restored. She asked them to show solidarity and to help each other, while overcoming their differences. She called on them to take advantage of the fertility of their province to increase production and self-development.
She called on them to prepare for peaceful elections, and not to listen to those who spread messages that destabilize them.
In Bubanza province, only two political parties, CNDD-FDD and UPRONA, laid wreaths at the Unity Monument.
The same advice was given by the Minister of National Education and Scientific Research, Dr François Havyarimana, to the people and pupils of Rutana province, where he celebrated the national Unity Day. A thanksgiving mass was also celebrated in the province.
Wreaths of flowers were then laid by representatives of various administrative bodies and political parties.
The ceremonies were also attended by other authorities, including the 2nd vice-president of the senate, the provincial governor, various provincial department heads and local administrators.
In MWARO province, it was the Minister of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender, Mrs. Imelde Sabushimike, who presided over the National Unity Charter ceremonies. The ceremonies began with a thanksgiving mass at the Saint Léonidas parish in Mwaro. After the mass, floral wreaths were laid at the fiftieth anniversary monument.
On that occasion, Minister Sabushimike pointed out that unity is the pillar of development in all sectors. According to her, a family without unity cannot achieve development, because there is strength in unity. She also pointed out that to achieve the national vision of an emerging Burundi in 2040 and a developed Burundi in 2060, it is necessary to pool knowledge and strength. She called on the people of Mwaro to strengthen their unity and combat all kinds of divisions that hamper development.
The governor of Mwaro province, Gaspard Gasanzwe, said that unity was a reality in his province. Political parties and religious denominations live together well, he said.
The ceremonies ended with a friendly match between young people affiliated to the party in power in Commune Mwaro and young people affiliated to the UPRONA party.
In Cankuzo province, the ceremonies took place in the commune of Kigamba. They began with a mass celebrated at the Nyamashishi branch and continued with the laying of wreaths at the unity monument by the administration and the CNDD-FDD, UPRONA and CNL political parties.
Gérard Barutwanayo, secretary of the CNDD-FDD party in that new province, took the opportunity to point out that the political parties agree on the fact that there is unity.
According to him, the history of ethnic groups was invented solely to divide the population, which is why he suggested that it should be completely erased from the memories of Burundians.
The governor of the province, Boniface Banyiyezako, called on the entire population to consolidate that unity through self-development and by safeguarding peace and security.