BUJUMBURA September 6th (ABP) – The Speaker of the National Assembly of Burundi, M. Gélase Daniel Ndabirabe enhanced with his presence, Wednesday August 31, 2022, the opening ceremonies of the regional conference of ombudsmen, on the theme ” The role of national mediation mechanisms for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the consolidation of peace in Africa”, a check on the site by ABP has revealed.
Out of eight countries that were invited to this conference, six responded to the invitation. Those are Burundi, Benin, Angola, Rwanda, the Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea.
In his opening speech, the Speaker of the National Assembly indicated that this regional conference comes at the right time given the role of mediators in the peaceful resolution and prevention of conflicts. He further specified that in the various regions of Africa, conflicts and their consequences are serious and increasing more and more in intensity, in human as well as economic and social costs, hoping that Africa in general and the Great Lakes region in particular will one day find peace and prosperity.
To that end, the Honorable Ndabirabe pointed out that this conference is an eloquent example of the awareness, by Africans, of the need to work in synergy to provide the best solutions to this very important question.
He recalled that Burundi has gone through difficult times in its historical journey. Multifaceted conflicts have experienced this country in the heart of Africa and many meanings have been attributed to these political, social and economic manifestations, he said.
Indeed, he said, Burundi can contribute to the search for ways and means to resolve conflicts in Africa on the basis of its experience, pointing out that the Burundian ombudsman has spared no effort in the search for mechanisms that could lead to the emergence of peace and the consolidation that he has constantly shared with the Burundi in all their diversity.
In addition, the Speaker of the National Assembly did not fail to congratulate the Ombudsman of the Republic of Burundi for having taken the initiative to organize that important event and especially for having given priority to mechanisms in all villages of Burundi.
Speaking, the Ombudsman of Burundi, Mr. Edward Nduwimana indicated that Burundi has established the institution of the Ombudsman of the Republic at a time in history when it responded more than to a necessity, peace, democracy and good governance.
He recalled that this institution has invested in the internal dialogue between various political actors including political parties, religious denominations, civil society, defense and security corps for a serene and peaceful climate. That institution can capitalize on a series of regional and international conferences on the issue of peace, he added.