Embassy of Burundi in Brussels: Commemoration of the 29^th anniversary of the assassination of His Excellency the President of the Republic Cyprien NTARYAMIRA.

On april 06, 2023, the Embassy of the Republic of Burundi in Brussels in collaboration with the Burundian diaspora in Belgium organized the commemoration ceremonies of the 29^th anniversary of the assassination of His Excellency Mr. Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, the late President of the Republic of Burundi.

 

On the invitation of the Embassy of Burundi in Brussels, the Burundians and friends of Burundi living in Belgium united in a prayer remembering the tragic death of President Cyprien NTARYAMIRA which occurred in Kigali on april 6, 1994.

These commemorative ceremonies took place in the hall of the parish of Notre Dame des Grâces de Belgique and took place in three steps: the time of a prayer, therefore a religious part, a civil ceremony reminding the figure of the late President Cyprien NTARYAMIRA and the speech time.

The religious ceremony was led by Father Daniel NAHIMANA and saw the presence of His Excellency Mr. Thérence NTAHIRAJA, the Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi in Brussels and his Spouse, the family of the late Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, including his Spouse and his two children, the Burundian diaspora and friends of Burundi living in Belgium.

In his words of welcome to the entire assembly present in that prayer, the celebrant Father Daniel NAHIMANA reminded the meaning of that ceremony that it is a prayer  to God for the late President Cyprien NTARYAMIRA and his collaborators including Bernard CIZA and Cyriaque SIMBIZI. He then introduced the civil ceremony on the biography of the late President Cyprien NTARYAMIRA against the backdrop of religious songs led by a choir from the Burundian community. The members of the Burundian community took the opportunity to present the moving testimonies on the life of the late President NTARYAMIRA.

In his homily, Father Daniel NAHIMANA referred to the word of God on the talents taken from the Gospel of Saint Matthew 25, 14-21 to explain the values and talents that were embodied by the late President NTARYAMIRA. He also explained the history of Burundi from the 1960s to the 2000s. He concluded his homily by inviting the State of Burundi to shed light on his assassination so that his family can mourn with dignity.

Afterwards, the speeches for the occasion followed, starting with the National Anthem “Burundi bwacu” then, in a monastic silence, the assembly listened to the speech of the late President Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, in which he called on the Burundians to restore discipline in all sectors of national life.

In his speech for the occasion, His Excellency Mr. Thérence NTAHIRAJA, the  Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi in Brussels, the Majestic Duchy of Luxembourg and the European Union, thanked everyone for their participation. He urged the participants to make their own the message of the discipline bequeathed by the late President Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, as well as the messages of peace, truth, reconciliation, compassion and solidarity.

His Excellency Ambassador Thérence NTAHIRAJA did not forget inviting all  Burundians living in Belgium to the ceremonies marking the 61^st anniversary of the Independence of Burundi which will be celebrated in Belgium on july 22, 2023. He insisted that all Burundians, wherever they are in Belgium and the Majestic Duchy of Luxembourg, are seriously preparing for the historic event.

The ceremonies ended by a rich moment of exchanges and conviviality between the Burundians living in Belgium and their friends.