Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On the afternoon of august 6, 2025, within the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, a handover ceremony was held between the outgoing ministers : Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, and the Honorable Ambassador Gervais ABAYEHO, former Minister in charge of East African Community Affairs and their successor, His Excellency Ambassador Edouard BIZIMANA, recently appointed to lead the Ministry.
This ceremony, attended by senior officials from both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the former Ministry responsible for East African Community Affairs, marked the official transfer of responsibilities from the outgoing ministers to the newly appointed minister, following the presidential decree issued on August 5, 2025.
After a brief overview of the current state of affairs presented by Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO, the outgoing ministers handed over foundational documents, files related to completed technical activities, ongoing initiatives, and upcoming projects planned within the Ministry. Priority areas for follow-up include: Burundi’s presidency of the African Union, Burundi’s leadership of the ECCAS Commission, the special mission of Burundi in the Sahel, upcoming sessions of permanent joint cooperation commissions, streamlining Burundi’s contributions to international organizations, diplomatic career management, Annual Work Plan files, National policy documents on labor migration, and other key documents.
For his part, the new Minister, His Excellency Ambassador Eduard BIZIMANA, commended the spirit of collaboration that characterized the handover process. He expressed his commitment to serve with dedication and rigor in fulfilling the Ministry’s mandate, a key gateway for the country’s international cooperation and economic development.
He reaffirmed his determination to continue the initiatives already underway, aligned with the strategic priorities of the 2040–2060 national vision. This approach reflects a commitment to institutional coherence and a resolve to build on past achievements while accelerating progress toward long-term objectives.
It is worth noting that the new Minister is a seasoned diplomat and accomplished academic. He holds a PhD in International Relations from IRIC (Cameroon) and an MBA in Diplomacy from Geneva. He has represented Burundi in several strategic capitals, including Moscow and Berlin, with accreditations covering more than ten countries. His extensive experience, both in diplomacy and academia, promises enlightened continuity in the implementation of the 2040–2060 vision.
