Burundi: President Ndayishimiye is Trying to Bring the Country Out of its Isolation

Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye prepares to grant a presidential pardon to more than 5,000 inmates in Bujumbura, as part of efforts to ease prison congestion, 26 April 2021. Evrard Ngendakumana/REUTERS

This event seemed unimaginable only a year ago. On 1 July, on the occasion of the 59th anniversary of Burundi’s independence, Bujumbura’s Intwari stadium welcomed, among its distinguished guests, Rwanda’s prime minister Édouard Ngirente.

This is the first sign of a reconciliation between the two countries, which began almost a year ago.

Diplomatic operaations

Burundi’s President does not intend to stop there in his diplomatic mission, as he now wants to establish links with the DRC.

On 28 June, Ndayishimiye sent Albert Shingiro, his foreign affairs minister, to meet with Tshisekedi before agreeing to a first tête-à-tête with his Congolese counterpart.

The latter’s arrival to power in January 2019 and his willingness to cooperate with his neighbours, particularly within the security field, has opened up new prospects that Gitega does not want to miss out on. Especially since Kinshasa and Kigali’s reconciliation, as well as the prospect of increased cooperation between the two countries in eastern DRC, is worrying some neighbours.

https://www.theafricareport.com/106221/burundi-president-ndayishimiye-is-trying-to-bring-the-country-out-of-its-isolation/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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