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Adoption of bills related to social protection in the Cabinet meeting

ByWebmaster

May 24, 2022

BUJUMBURA May 23rd (ABP) – The Cabinet met on Wednesday May 18, under the chairmanship of the Head of State, Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye, at the presidential palace Ntare Rushatsi, with 10 points on the agenda according to the press release from the General Secretariat of the State.

Among the files analyzed is the draft decree on the missions, organization and functioning of the Regulatory Authority for Social Protection Programs and Systems “ARPS”. One of the innovations of the aforementioned law was the creation of a fully-fledged regulatory authority, separate from any other body. The press release indicates that the need to set up a regulator of the social protection sector is all the more obvious as one often observes a dispute opposing the beneficiaries to the social security organizations, especially at the level of pensions. In addition, the possibilities offered to private individuals to create social mutuals implies that they have an authority that approves and supervises them, with a view to bringing order and protecting the members of these mutuals. It is in that context that the elaboration of this draft decree which comes to apply the Social Protection Code is situated. At the end of the discussions, the project was adopted with some recommendations.

The Cabinet then analyzed the decree revising the decree of August 22, 2012 on the creation, organization, composition and functioning of the national commission for social protection. The press release indicates that this brings in particular innovations related to its missions, the origin of the members of the bodies, the precision of the operating costs and the composition of the bodies. After discussions and debates, the project was adopted with some recommendations.

The Cabinet also analyzed the bill on the ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the assistance agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Burundi to facilitate a partnership aimed at a transformation that promotes the sustainable development of Burundi. The press release indicates that diplomatic relations between Burundi and the United States of America date back to 1964. But since 2014, relations between the two States have been frozen, resulting in the temporary termination of the assistance agreement.

With the decision of November 18, 2021 of the Congress of the United States of America to lift the sanctions, unjustly imposed on Burundi from 2015 according to the press release. The two countries signed on February 11, 2022, the Assistance Agreement to facilitate a partnership aimed at a transformation that promotes sustainable development in Burundi. The total amount of assistance is 400,000,000 US dollars for the period from 2022 to 2026. By ratifying this agreement, Burundi will have contributed to its effective implementation, thus avoiding possible delays in the disbursement of funds such as than provided for in the agreement.

Among the files analyzed is also the bill on the ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the economic and technical cooperation agreement between the government of the Republic of Burundi and the government of the United Arab Emirates. Through that agreement signed on November 10, 2021 in Dubai, the focus is on the development and strengthening of economic cooperation between the two countries. The areas of cooperation will relate to trade, investment, agriculture, livestock, fishing and the acquisition of agricultural land, energy, mining and industries, infrastructure, tourism and transport. After discussion and debate, the project was adopted.