The consolidation of a strategic relationship between the Diaspora and the Government, as well as the Promotion of the Employment of Migrants, a reality in the Ministry in charge of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation has carried out a number of activities relating to the strengthening of the relationship between the Government and the Diaspora, and the promotion of migrant employment. This was announced by the Minister, His Excellency Albert Shingiro, during the presentation of the report on the achievements of the Ministry for the period from January to March 2022. These include participation in a meeting of the Consultation Commission and Follow-up on the Prevention and Repression of Human Trafficking, two analysis sessions of the strategy document for the implementation of the National Labor Migration Policy in Burundi, and participation in two meetings, within the framework of promotion, labor mobility and regional integration mechanisms.

 He added that the Ministry also monitored the process of establishing a joint order between the Ministers having foreign affairs and finance in their attributions on the exemption from taxes on the personal effects of members of the Burundian Diaspora who definitively return to their homeland. A retreat of the ad-hoc committee responsible for updating the implementation strategy of the National Diaspora Policy from February 21 to 25, 2022 was held in Gitega. The Ministry also participated in a technical meeting for the implementation of the tripartite project (Government of Burundi, OIM and AfDB). The AfDB Tripartite Project is based on “reducing youth unemployment and engaging the Diaspora”.

With regard to the promotion of the employment of Burundian migrant workers, the instruments of ratification of two bilateral agreements on labor migration with Saudi Arabia have been drawn up and submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval and to Parliament for adoption.

According to His Excellency Albert Shingiro, similar agreements are going on with Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. After the signing of these agreements, the Ministry will also take diplomatic steps with Kuwait and Bahrain in order to expand the market for Burundian labor abroad.

Regarding the promotion of the presence of Burundians in regional and international organizations, HE Albert Shingiro said that the Ministry has led an all-out campaign to have Burundi elected as a Member of the Peace and Security Council of the Union for a term of two (2) years, followed by the election of Burundi as a member of the United Nations Commission for Social Development. He pointed out that Mr. Domitien NDAYIZEYE and Sylvestre NTIBANTUNGANYA both former Presidents of Burundi were respectively elected first as members, then to chair the Council of Elders of the African Union and the Council of Elders of the Standby Force of the East African Community (EAC Stand-by Force), followed by the election of the Honorable Vital Bambaze as a member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for a 3-year term.

His Excellency Albert Shingiro did not fail to awaken souls to note that the return of Burundi to the regional and international scene is now a reality.