Retreat of the High Level Strategical Group for the implementation of the United Nations strategy for peacebuilding, conflict prevention and resolution in the Great Lakes region

On May 19, 2022, at the KIRIRI GARDEN Hotel, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO and the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations for the Great Lakes Region Mr. Huang Xia, proceeded at the opening of the activities of the retreat of the High Level Political Group for the implementation of the United Nations strategy for the consolidation of peace, prevention and resolution of conflicts in the Great Lakes region.

In his speech, Mr. Huang Xia thanked the Government of the Republic of Burundi for agreeing to host the first retreat of the High Level Strategical Group. He said that during the two days, they will reflect on recent developments in the region and their contribution as the United Nations to the efforts of the region of the countries of the region towards peace and more sustainable development and shared. As part of these reflections, he indicated that they would focus on the review and adoption of key documents, prepared by the technical arm of the Strategy Support Mechanism (SSM) group.

As for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation H.E Albert SHINGIRO, he first expressed his thanks to the Special Envoy of the Secretary General for the Great Lakes region and to the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Burundi for having chosen Bujumbura as place for the holding of this important retreat of the High-Level Political Group for the implementation of the United Nations strategy for the capitalization of peace and the prevention and resolution of conflicts in the Great Lakes region. He said that Burundi is a very welcoming, stable, calm country, where the population from North to South, from East to West through the Center goes about its daily activities. Burundi’s return to the regional, continental and international scene is well established. “Burundi is playing its rightful role in the concert of Nations, particularly in the fight against terrorism, a collective threat that spares no Nations, as well as the promotion of the universal principles and values ​​that unite us as Member States of the United Nations”, added HE Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation welcomed the considerable efforts made by all the Heads of United Nations entities in the Great Lakes as well as those at headquarters who mobilized around Special Envoy Xia to make this Regional Strategy a framework for joint action in support of the efforts of the countries and peoples of the region.

He indicated that as far as Burundi is concerned, it will continue to play its full role in the concert of Nations and in the region by supporting all the efforts and initiatives underway to promote peace, security, development and prosperity. The country will continue to engage with neighbors to promote cooperation, cohesion and solidarity. (MFADC)