Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
Mr Severin Mbarubukeye , Permanent Secretary in charge of East African Community Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and Development Cooperation, opened the Consultative Meeting on the Development of the East African Community (EAC) Strategy on Artificial Intelligence, held at the Roca Golf Hotel in Bujumbura on Thursday , January 22 , 2026. The meeting was organized by the Secretariat of the East African Community, through the East African Commission on Science and Technology. The objective of the meeting was the joint development of the East African Community’s regional strategy.
In his speech, Permanent Secretary Mr. Séverin Mbarubukeye welcomed the organization of the meeting and thanked all the delegates who responded favorably to this invitation, while welcoming, in particular, the guests of the Science and Technology Commission of the East African Community, and wishing them a pleasant stay in the Republic of Burundi.
Mr. Séverin Mbarubukeye reported that the Fifth Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State of the EAC, held on June 18, 2007, established the East African Commission on Science and Technology (EASTECO) as an EAC institution and that the Community’s mandate is to coordinate and promote science, technology, and innovation among partner states. He indicated that the Government of Burundi is ready to support all related projects and programs and to ensure their effective implementation.
The development of the artificial intelligence strategy will serve as a catalyst for operationalizing innovation and emerging technologies to promote agriculture, health, education, environment, finance, and public services. It will be developed in accordance with the African Union Continental Strategy on Artificial Intelligence, international ethical standards, the EAC Vision 2050, and the East African Policy on Science, Technology, and Innovation.
The strategy will also help partner states manage the risks associated with algorithmic bias, abusive surveillance and digital inequality, while improving the delivery of public services, facilitating regional and national e-commerce and developing smart government platforms.
Permanent Secretary Séverin Mbarubukeye concluded by inviting participants to offer relevant observations, constructive comments, and meaningful contributions to the development of the EAC AI Strategy, drawing on their diverse experiences and areas of expertise. He expressed his hope that the meeting would provide an opportunity for fruitful exchanges and contribute significantly to achieving the established objectives.