Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
As part of the strengthening of diplomatic ties between the Republic of Burundi and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, His Excellency Ambassador Édouard BIZIMANA, granted, on September 12, 2025, an audience to His Excellency Mr. Yahya Ahmed Okeish, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia accredited to Burundi, with residence in Dar Es Salaam.
This meeting, marked by courtesy and cordiality, allowed the Saudi Ambassador to convey the warm congratulations of His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to his Burundian counterpart on his recent appointment, as well as his wishes for every success in the exercise of his duties. He also expressed the Kingdom’s readiness to work closely with Burundi in a spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation.
The discussions focused on several topics of mutual interest, including strengthening bilateral relations in strategic areas. Both parties emphasized the importance of continuing coordination and mutual support efforts in international fora, where solidarity between states is essential to defending shared interests. Follow-up to the commitments resulting from the economic roundtable held in Bujumbura on December 5 and 6, 2024, was also discussed, with the two diplomats agreeing to maintain an active dialogue on the concrete follow-up to this initiative.
Burundi’s participation in the 2030 World Expo, scheduled to take place in Riyadh, was highlighted as a major opportunity for international influence. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia presented its official invitation to Burundi, marking the first formal communication on this matter, with a view to promoting the country’s economic potential at this global event. Discussions also focused on the continuation of ongoing bilateral projects, identification of new areas of cooperation, notably in the energy sector, as well as issues related to multilateral cooperation. Before returning to Dar Es Salaam, the Ambassador plans to meet with some Burundian authorities. At the end of their meeting, the two dignitaries reaffirmed their shared commitment to taking relations between Burundi and Saudi Arabia to a higher level.