BUJUMBURA, November 20th (ABP) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation (MAECD) organized on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, a briefing for the heads of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives of regional and international organizations accredited to Bujumbura, a check on the site by ABP learned has revealed.
In his speech, Albert Shingiro, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, thanked all the participants in that biyearly information and exchange meeting, stressing that it was organized within the framework of friendly and sincere exchange, in a spirit of mutual trust and respect. According to Shingiro, the session is also an opportunity for consultation with a view to further improving the results of the combined efforts to strengthen the solid and mutually beneficial partnerships that they freely agreed to achieve with their respective countries and organizations.
He gave an overview of the top priorities of the Government of Burundi and the general situation prevailing in the country. He also spoke about the situation of Burundi in the region and its position on the global challenges and issues currently facing the world.
In terms of peace and security, Ambassador Shingiro indicated that Burundi is today a calm and peaceful country.
At the political level, Burundi is on an evolutionary slope in its efforts to make Burundi a country of peace, a universe of stability, an islet of development and an oasis of democracy where all Burundians soak up democratic values on a daily basis. Democratic culture is already rooted in the habits of Burundians and has continued to strengthen over the years, he stressed.
Furthermore, he continued to say that respect for democratic principles has become a reality guaranteed not only by the law on the organization and functioning of political parties, but also by the Constitution of the Republic of Burundi. Freedom of expression, assembly, association, as well as the right to found associations or organizations in accordance with the law, are among the fundamental rights of the individual and citizen in Burundi and are guaranteed by Articles 31 and 32 of the Burundian Constitution.
Reiterating his remarks, Shingiro indicated that Burundi is preparing for the 2025 legislative elections which will be followed two years later by the presidential elections in 2027. Everything will be done to offer Burundians and the international community free, fair, transparent, democratic, inclusive and peaceful elections, he reassured.
According to him, democracy and good governance go hand in hand and are linked like a tree and bark. In a country that has experienced a painful past like Burundi for several decades, he mentioned, there can be no good governance without a radical change in mentality and behavior. Thus, he provided the example of the President of the Republic who continues to call for a change in mentality and behavior in order to promote listening, to bridge the gap between leaders and citizens in order to know their needs and to work together for the development of all and by all, with the promotion of good governance through the fierce fight against corruption and all related phenomena as the top priority. On that occasion, Shingiro did not fail to remind the participants that all these ambitions emanate from the vision of Burundi as an emerging country by 2040 and developed country in 2060.
Among the questions asked by the participants during the session was the involvement of Burundi in the regional security process in eastern DRC. In response, the Burundian Minister of Foreign Affairs explained that Burundi is very involved in the issue of security in eastern DRC, both bilaterally and within the EAC. Burundi is campaigning for the restoration of peace in the region, and especially for the restoration of the authority of the Congolese state in eastern DRC, he added.