Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On Friday, June 12, 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and Development Cooperation, His Excellency Ambassador Edouard Bizimana, received in audience Mrs. Alison Heather Thorpe, Ambassador of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Burundi, residing in Kigali. This courtesy visit provided an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic ties and discuss regional and international issues.
The two officials praised the excellent relations between Burundi and Great Britain. They discussed matters of common interest, including strengthening diplomatic relations, scholarships, the security situation in eastern DRC, and the opening of borders with neighboring countries.
Mrs. Thorpe announced a significant contribution from Great Britain to Burundi: one million dollars for the Ebola emergency appeal, delivered through UN agencies, and eight hundred thousand dollars through UNICEF for the fight against cholera. This support demonstrates Britain’s commitment to assisting Burundi in its health challenges.
Minister Bizimana expressed his gratitude for this support and outlined Burundi’s priorities during its chairmanship of the African Union. He specifically mentioned the organization of the Continental Dialogue and invited Great Britain to support Burundi in successfully fulfilling its AU responsibilities.
Regarding the DRC, Minister Bizimana acknowledged a partial improvement in the situation, with the return of some refugees. However, he stressed that atrocities persist in certain areas and that the implementation of the Washington and Doha agreements remains incomplete. He called on the international community to become more involved in achieving lasting peace.