BUJUMBURA March 30th (ABP) – The Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi, Mr. Prosper Bazombanza enhanced with his presence the high-level strategic workshop, on the mid-term evaluation of the presidency at the summit of the East African community and the state of play of the implementation of integrative projects and programs, organized on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 by the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture a check on the site by ABP has revealed.
The permanent secretary at the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Mr. Séverin Mbarubukeye indicated that during six months at the top of the presidency, Burundi carried out various projects in that sector, including the election of a Burundian to the post of president of the Legislative Assembly of the East African Community and of the EAC focal points in all the ministries of Burundi.
He said that Burundi has done its best so that the French language and Swahili can be used in meetings of the East African community and has also been able to help the DRC to be authorized to join the EAC while pointing out that there have been EAC meetings held in Burundi.
Regarding the challenges faced by Burundi in its presidency of the EAC, Mr. Mbarubukeye indicated the lack of the necessary means and the delay in payment, by Burundi, of the contribution costs for the functioning of the organs of the EAC.
To all these problems, Vice-President Bazombanza promised that the government of Burundi will do everything possible to find solutions.
Note that this workshop saw the participation of the heads of the various departments of the ministries, representatives of the Burundian parliament and representatives of the private sectors. During the exchanges and debates, the participants made useful recommendations for the success of Burundi’s integration into the EAC in general and of the presidency at the summit in particular, whose vision is a prosperous, competitive, stable and politically united.
To the Government of Burundi, they recommended in particular the assurance of the implementation of community commitments made by Burundi in relation to the provisions of the treaty establishing the East African Community, the assurance of the payment of arrears of all contributions to the budget of the EAC organs and the acceleration of the process of ratification of the protocol on communications in order to facilitate the implementation of the single area of funding.
To the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture, they recommended ensuring the participation of community activities in accordance with the calendar of activities, collaboration with the ministry in charge finances in the development of sufficient budget on the participation of Burundi in community activities, the insurance of the production and the restitution on the emission which are carried out abroad.
They also recommended that all sectoral ministries designate competent executives capable of chairing and representing Burundi at the community meeting. To this end, the designated persons must be fluent in French and English, master regional issues at the political, economic, social and cultural level, have diplomacy combined with rigor and proven capacity for the coordination of interventions. Abp/dnt