Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
An important workshop was held in Gitega on May 6, 2026, under the chairpersonship of Mrs. Councel Ancilla Ntakaburimvo Director General in charge of the Programme for Defending the Interests of Burundi and Burundians Abroad within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She was representing the Minister at this event.
This three-day workshop, running from May 6 to 8 2026, brought together a wide range of professionals and officials: magistrates, prosecutors, court presidents, lawyers, judicial police officers, provincial commissioners, experts from the Ministry of Justice, as well as provincial governors. The diversity of participants reflects the importance of the topic addressed and the determination to involve all stakeholders.
The main objective was to strengthen the knowledge and skills of the actors involved so as to better understand and apply the international conventions and headquarters agreements signed by Burundi. These legal instruments govern cooperation relations with States and international organizations, defining the rights and obligations of each party.
As time passes, several difficulties have been observed in the implementation of these texts:
– insufficient proficiency,
– divergent interpretations,
– abuse in the use of privileges and immunities,
– and sometimes tensions between these immunities and respect for national sovereignty.
These observations prompted the holding of the workshop, in order to provide clarification and promote the harmonious application of international instruments.
The privileges and immunities granted to diplomatic missions and international organizations are not personal advantages, but functional guarantees intended to ensure the independence of their missions. A proper understanding of them is essential to avoid misunderstandings and strengthen cooperation between national institutions and international partners.
The Government of Burundi reaffirms its commitment to respect international law while protecting its sovereign interests and those of its citizens. This workshop marks an important step toward a better understanding of international legal instruments and toward more effective interministerial cooperation.
All things considered, this initiative will help strengthen Burundi’s credibility on the international stage and ensure a more rigorous and balanced application of conventions
and headquarters agreements.