Achievements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation for the second quarter (October-December) 2021-2022

On monday, january 31, 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO held a Press Conference on the achievements of the Ministry for the second quarter (October-December) 2021-2022.

In his speech, His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, presented to the national and international community the major quarterly achievements of the Ministry for the second quarter of the current fiscal year, based on the Action Plans of the Government and our Ministry for the period 2021-2022 as well as on the basis of innovative initiatives outside the Actions Plans. This presentation was structured around six main areas, namely: strengthening good governance; strengthening and expanding development cooperation; strengthening diplomatic communication; the consolidation of a strategic relationship between the Diaspora and the Government; the challenges encountered and the prospects for the future.

Within the framework of strengthening good governance, the fight against corruption and economic embezzlement and, more specifically, within the framework of the implementation of axis 13 of the National Development Plan of Burundi 2018-2027 relating to governance, concrete actions have been taken. These include the adoption of the bill on the organization of the Diplomatic Service of the Republic of Burundi by the two chambers of parliament; the organization of a retreat for the staff of the central administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation to improve the quality of public service; the intensification of social dialogue by organizing regular monthly and/or quarterly consultation meetings with managers and staff of the central administration; organization of visits and quarterly visits to the field for monitoring and evaluation in the departments of the Ministry; taking measures to fight against corruption and to reduce administrative delays in the processing of files; organization of training workshops in various fields: training in key areas of diplomacy such as administrative and diplomatic writing, diplomatic and consular practices, diplomatic communication, protocol practices and negotiation techniques with a view to building the capacities of Ministry Executives with less than 5 years of service, training for communication Executives on the management and maintenance of the website, training for Executives of the General Inspection and the Head Office of Administration and Management in performance auditing; development of a Strategy for good governance, the fight against corruption and economic embezzlement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation: a Sectoral Strategy document is validated at the level of the Ministry and ha%/s been transmitted to the Premature for programming at the Council of Ministers; production of the statistical yearbook of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, 2020 edition; carrying out monitoring and evaluation missions of the achievements of regional and international organizations and foreign NGOs: a capacity building workshop for members of the Interministerial Committee for Monitoring and Evaluation of Foreign NGOs activities for the preparation of field visits, training of some Ministry officials on control, evaluation, admissibility and full learning, the schedule of field monitoring and evaluation missions has been prepared and is available; carrying out two inspection missions in Diplomatic and Consular Missions; monitoring of the implementation of the Sectoral Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation was ensured; have the draft protocol guide for Burundi adopted by the Council of Ministers; the popularization of Burundi’s foreign policy within national and international institutions has been ensured.

Still within the framework of good governance, at the level of axis 2 of the PND Burundi 2018-2027 which concerns the development of infrastructures/sectors of buildings and public works, the Ministry ensured the follow-up of the construction works of the chancellery in the Embassy of Burundi in Addis Ababa, Kigoma and Paris and rehabilitation of the residence in Kinshasa, the construction of the fences of the plots of Mogadishu and Dodoma as well as the monitoring of the construction project of the building which will house the services of the Ministry.

With regard to the strengthening and extension of development cooperation, in particular within the framework of the implementation of axis 16 of the PND Burundi 2018-2027 which speaks of the development of cooperation and sub-regional partnerships , regional and international, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation ensured the follow-up for the financing of the project of rehabilitation of the International Airport Melchior NDADAYE, the Port of Bujumbura as well as the deviation of the National Road N°1 (RN1); finalized the development of the National Regional Integration Strategy (SNIR) and the Actions Plan for its implementation, organized the preparations for the 4th Session of the Joint Cooperation Commission between the Republic of Burundi and the Republic of Kenya, continued the diplomatic steps for the holding of the 1st Session of the Mixed Commission for Cooperation between Burundi and Sudan; triggered the process of signing a Framework Cooperation Agreement to organize the 1st Session of the Mixed Commission between Burundi and Togo; continued advocacy to obtain the lifting of sanctions taken by certain Western partners; prepared the holding of a joint commission between Burundi and Uganda; signed a Technical and Economic Cooperation Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a Joint Cooperation Committee between Burundi and the United Arab Emirates and two Agreements between Burundi and Saudi Arabia, negotiated more scholarships and internships with bilateral partners and participated in the session of the Permanent Mixed Commission for cooperation between the Republic of Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

With a view to extend political and diplomatic contacts as well as ties of friendship and cooperation, a few working missions were carried out: in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia; in Rome, Italy; in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; in Dodoma, Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar in Tanzania; in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; in Libreville; in Dakar in Senegal and in Istanbul in Turkey. In this context, the Ministry has also made its contribution in the reception, supervision and work of foreign delegations visiting Burundi.

In terms of strengthening diplomatic communication, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation held one (1) exchange and information session for the Heads of Diplomatic and Consular Missions and Representatives of organizations accredited in Burundi; received in audience the bilateral and multilateral partners and published the related information; published information related to the activities of the Ministry on the website and on other social networks of the Ministry; produced and sent magazines bringing together current affairs in the Country to the Diplomatic and Consular Missions of Burundi abroad and to the Diplomatic and Consular Missions as well as to the International Organizations accredited in Burundi.

With regard to the consolidation of a strategic relationship between the Government and the Diaspora, as well as the promotion of the employment of Burundian migrants, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation has processed the applications for exemption personal effects of Burundians abroad wishing to return voluntarily and definitively to the Country; has prepared draft bilateral agreements that our Country is preparing to sign with partner Countries to ensure legal protection for Burundian migrant workers. Although the Ministry’s assets balance sheet for the period from October to December 2021 is very satisfactory (95%), challenges have not been lacking: the context of the COVID-19 pandemic which has continued to impact and to slow down the activities of the Ministry, in particular at the level of international cooperation; the lack of sufficient means to achieve all the objectives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation; However, Minister Albert SHINGIRO said that they are satisfied with the results they have been able to achieve with the means and conditions available. He promised that they will redouble their efforts to maintain the dynamism of their teams in order to achieve the objectives of the Laborious and Responsible Government “Reta Mvyeyi, Reta Nkozi”.

With regard to future prospects, the Ministry will continue to work with dedication and determination in deepening the relations of friendship and cooperation with  various partners of Burundi, in the search for new partners, in strengthening the economic diplomacy based on: trade; foreign investment; the transfer of technologies and the development of infrastructures through win-win partnerships, in the effective normalization of relations with the Countries of the European Union with a view to the Cancellation of the sanctions unjustly taken against Burundi and in the improvement of the working conditions of the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation.

Minister Albert SHINGIRO closed his presentation by wishing the best wishes for happiness, good health, peace, success and prosperity for the year 2022 to all who were present, to all the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation and to all Burundi’s partners and expressing his wish that this year can give new impetus to the multifaceted relations maintained between Burundi and its partners.