Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
The work of the 61st Meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC) concluded on May 29, 2026 in Bujumbura with a ministerial meeting marked by important decisions aimed at strengthening peace, security and regional cooperation.
In his welcoming remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and Development Cooperation, His Excellency Ambassador Édouard Bizimana, emphasized that this 61st meeting was taking place within a regional and international context characterized by profound changes and complex, interconnected security challenges whose repercussions extend beyond national borders. He indicated that these challenges are now compounded by new factors of instability such as climate change, socio-economic pressures, and recurring humanitarian crises.
In light of this situation, he reiterated that no single state can provide lasting solutions to the challenges facing the region. He reaffirmed Burundi’s commitment to the ideals of peace, peaceful coexistence, and regional cooperation, while also reiterating its willingness to continue collaborating with other member states to promote stability and sustainable development in Central Africa.
Following the opening remarks, participants listened to the presentation of the outgoing Bureau’s report before proceeding to the election of the new UNSAC Bureau. At the conclusion of the vote, Burundi was elected President of the organization, Gabon First Vice-President, the Democratic Republic of Congo Second Vice-President, while the Republic of Congo will assume the Secretariat.
During the handover ceremony, His Excellency Ambassador Édouard BIZIMANA thanked the member states for the trust placed in Burundi and assured that his country would spare no effort to responsibly assume the missions entrusted to it.
The activities of this ministerial meeting then continued with the review and adoption of the report of the 61st UNSAC meeting before the continuation of the work behind closed doors.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the ministers adopted a declaration on the prevention of internal displacement and the protection of displaced persons in Central Africa. In this document, they reaffirmed their commitment to the relevant instruments of the United Nations, the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) relating to the prevention of internal displacement, the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons, and the promotion of sustainable solutions.
The participants also adopted the Bujumbura Declaration on strengthening regional mechanisms for conflict prevention, mediation, and peaceful resolution for sustainable peace and resilient development in Central Africa. Through this declaration, they reaffirmed their commitment to promoting a culture of peace, dialogue, tolerance, cooperation, and the peaceful settlement of disputes, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
In his closing remarks, His Excellency Ambassador Édouard Bizimana expressed his sincere gratitude to the participants for their commitment and the high quality of the discussions that characterized the proceedings. He emphasized that the discussions demonstrated once again that the challenges facing Central Africa require collective, coordinated, and united responses. He also reaffirmed the Burundian government’s conviction that only a concerted approach will lead to lasting solutions to the region’s shared challenges.
In a press briefing held at the end of the meeting, the Minister described the 61st UNSAC Ministerial Meeting as particularly fruitful. He indicated that several challenges affecting the region were examined and that Member States committed to working together to find lasting solutions.
Speaking about Burundi’s role as Chair of the African Union, he stressed that the country is relentlessly pursuing its efforts to combat terrorism and promote dialogue as the preferred means of preventing and peacefully resolving conflicts