BUJUMBURA February 15th (ABP) – The Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security proceeded on Thursday February 15, 2024, in Bujumbura, to the official launch of the “Kaze Twiyunge” project, an integrated response to promote protection and the resilience of returnees in Burundi, period 2023-2027.
That action is funded by the European Union (EU) and will be executed by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) consortium and other partners in the communes of seven provinces of Burundi, namely Cibitoke, Makamba, Rutana, Ruyigi, Cankuzo , Muyinga and Kirundo.
In his speech for the occasion, the Permanent Secretary in charge of security issues at the ministry responsible for Community Development, Lt General André Ndayambaje, on behalf of the government, thanked the EU embassy for its multifaceted support granted to the Burundi with the aim of ensuring the well-being of its population, by guaranteeing equitable access to basic social services. This project, he continued, comes to concretize the action of the EU to meet the needs in terms of reception, resettlement and reintegration of returnees in Burundi.
The government of Burundi has made the repatriation of its sons and daughters in asylum countries a priority, as well as strengthening their reintegration capacities, said Lt General Ndayambaje, noting that from 2017 until February 12, 2024, Burundi has already welcomed more than 268,000 facilitated returnees.
According to the leader of the consortium and IRC Director in Burundi, Mr. Valentin Lubunga, this launching ceremony is an opportunity for the “Kaze Twiyunge” project to present its objectives and also to strengthen synergies between the different actors involved on the theme of protection, cohesion and resilience of returnees in Burundi. This project, he underlined, is part of a logic of complementarity and synergy within the framework of the EU regional project as well as other humanitarian and development initiatives in asylum countries (Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania) and Burundi.
The EU Ambassador to Burundi, Mrs. Elisabetta Pietrobon, indicated that the management of migration and forced displacement constitutes a key area of engagement for the EU. The EU’s focus is to help promote stability and peace in the region, particularly with the concepts of moving from conflict to trust, she said, declaring that the “Kaze Twiyunge” project was designed in response to the reminder launched by the President of the Republic to Burundians in exile to return to contribute to the development of their country. Mrs. Pietrobon did not forget to emphasize that this project is in line with the priorities of Burundi’s National Development Plan (PND).
During his presentation, Mr. Clément Niyonsaba, the coordinator of the “Kaze Twiyunge” project indicated that to promote the reintegration of Burundian returnees in the return area, it is necessary to facilitate access to protection and legal assistance services for them and the community in zones of return. He also cited the strengthening of the resilience of host communities in Burundi and the process of reintegration into the targeted community. This project will focus on three axes, including social cohesion, resilience and the protection of returnees to Burundi, he informed, noting that the budget for “Kaze Twiyunge” is €17,278,447, or €15,500 ,000 € financed by the EU and 1,778,447 € financed by NGOs.