BUJUMBURA, March 18th (ABP) – The President of the Republic of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, and his better half returned on Saturday, March 15, 2025 from a visit to Serbia at the invitation of that country’s President, Aleksandar Vučić.
In an interview with the press at Mechior Ndadaye International Airport, the spokesperson for the President of the Republic of Burundi, Ms. Rosine Guilène Gatoni, said that during his visit, President Ndayishimiye and his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vučić held a meeting during which they reiterated a new impetus for fruitful cooperation between Serbia and Burundi, a cooperation that dates back to 1962. This political will focus on strengthening cooperation between the two countries, expressed by the respective Heads of State, has resulted in the signing of 9 agreements and memoranda in various sectors, such as the economy, agriculture, tourism, ICT, education, sports, diplomacy where a visa exemption agreement was signed, according to Ms. Gatoni.
Furthermore, during their discussions, the two Heads of State took the opportunity to discuss issues of national and international interest, she added.
To that end, President Ndayishimiye reiterated Burundi’s full support for Serbia regarding the issue of Kosovo, which is considered an integral part of Serbia.
They also took the opportunity to discuss the issue of peace and security at the regional and international levels, particularly in the DRC, where the two Heads of State reaffirmed their position on the peaceful resolution of the conflict through the tools offered by diplomacy, Gatoni noted.
The Burundian Head of State also took the opportunity to express his support for Serbia in organizing the 2027 feat, a major event in which Burundi has already confirmed its participation. After their expanded meeting, the two Heads of State addressed the press to reiterate the strengthening of their friendship and cooperation between their two countries and their peoples.
On the sidelines of the visit, the Burundian Head of State also met with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia, Mrs. Ana Brnabić, where they were able to discuss multi-sectoral issues of common interest which directly affect the concerns of the population, and analyzed how they can build on the agreements that have already been signed thanks to this political will between these two Heads of State, so that the Serbian and Burundian people can benefit from them.
During his visit, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia showed the Burundian leader the Palace of the Assembly, a great historical monument of cultural significance in Serbia and which was erected during the time of Yugoslavia. During the visit, the Burundian Head of State visited several historical sites, major cultural landmarks, and monuments in Serbia.
He also visited the Vlatacom Institute, a multifunctional center specializing in the development of new technologies, focusing on air, maritime, and land security, from specialized software development to modern equipment. It was an opportunity to discuss prospects for collaboration and cooperation in the security and military fields.
As part of sharing experiences in the ICT field, the two Heads of State visited the Belgrade Science and Technology Park, a regional incubator of excellence for young innovators. President Ndayishimiye also learned about the “Waterfront” project, an initiative to rebuild the city of Belgrade to make it more modern and attractive. All these visits are consistent with the vision and development goals that Burundi has put forward, whether in the fields of ICT, economy, etc.
On the other hand, according to Ms. Gatoni, First Lady Angeline Ndayishimiye was able to hold a tête-à-tête with First Lady Tamara Vučić of Serbia. Following their visit to Burundi during the Women Leaders Forum, the meeting was a reunion for the two First Ladies. It was an opportunity to discuss areas of common interest, particularly the promotion of the well-being of children and women, topics that are central to their missions, both within their foundations and in their daily work. They also discussed cultural and historical issues.
These two first ladies visited the Kalemegdan Fortress, a museum illustrating Serbia’s military history and featuring a large, attractive center for tourists who wish to immerse themselves in Serbia’s military history. They also visited the child protection center, which provides shelter for vulnerable women and their children, providing them with support and financial assistance.
Knowing that the First Lady of Burundi cares about the well-being of children and women, it was an opportunity to address those women and their children and leave them a message of encouragement, as they are the future of tomorrow, Gatoni said.
Also accompanied by the First Lady of Serbia, Mrs. Ndayishimiye visited the Temple of Saint Sava, an Orthodox church that represents a cultural legacy for the Serbian people. She also visited the African Museum in Belgrade, where tools and symbols illustrating the history of African countries are exhibited. She took the opportunity to leave a trace of Burundi by offering traditional Burundian tools such as “Ibiseke, Inkoko, and Ingoma,” so that visitors to the African museum could find tools and materials that reflect the history of Burundi.
She then visited the Museum of Yugoslavia to pay tribute to Tito.
Closing their tour, they visited the Early Childhood Development Center, currently being built by the First Lady of Serbia, as part of a program to support early childhood.