ADDIS ABABA, Feb 21 (ABP) – The President of the Republic of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, who holds the presidency of the African Union (AU), has pledged to consolidate peace and security, indispensable foundations of any ambition for sustainable development and regional and continental integration.
He was speaking during his address delivered after being entrusted with the presidency of the assembly of heads of state and government of the AU, which took place on Saturday, February 14, 2026. According to him, peace is the essential condition for institutional stability, productive investment, social cohesion, and trust among peoples and States.
Emphasizing the importance of peace, the Burundian president recalled that Burundi recognizes that the delay recorded in its development was caused by conflicts, even though it had significant assets. He also referred to the country’s positive experience in peacefully emerging from conflicts and maintaining the restored peace.
In the exercise of his presidency, the Burundian Head of State affirmed that he will spare no effort to support the “Silencing the Guns” initiative, which embodies the deep aspiration of African peoples to live in security, dignity, and hope.
Furthermore, President Ndayishimiye stated that he wishes the AU to give particular attention to strengthening and complementarity between the African peace and security architecture and the African governance architecture, in an integrated approach linking conflict prevention, early warning, preventive diplomacy, mediation, inclusive governance, and post-conflict reconstruction, in close coordination with the Regional Economic Communities and regional peacebuilding mechanisms.
According to the Burundian president, the experience gained on the African continent demonstrates that sustainable peace is built through inclusive processes of ongoing dialogue, reconciliation, strengthening of national cohesion, and consolidation of institutions.
He also recalled that it is likewise based on the promotion of participatory governance, justice, and balanced economic development, as well as on addressing the structural factors of fragility, notably poverty, persistent inequalities, youth exclusion, and the marginalization of certain components of African societies.
To this end, he promised to draw on the dynamism and good faith of the youth, while involving women, in order to reflect on a sustainable conflict prevention strategy in Africa.
In this regard, in his capacity as AU Champion for the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, the Burundian president indicated that he plans to organize in August 2026, in Bujumbura, one of the largest gatherings of African youth, dedicated to a continental dialogue on youth, peace and security, coupled with the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
According to him, this forum is intended to be resolutely intergenerational, promoting open and constructive exchanges among young people, political decision-makers, continental institutions, civil society, academia, and the private sector. The objective is to strengthen mutual understanding, highlight African experiences, and formulate operational recommendations adapted to realities on the ground.
Through this initiative, the Burundian Head of State emphasized that Burundi wishes to strengthen young people’s ownership of the African peace and security agenda, while affirming their central role in the African renaissance.