The whole world celebrates the International Day of the United Nations Peacekeepers, every year. This is an opportunity to pay tribute to civilian, police and military personnel for their invaluable contribution to the work of the United Nations. The theme chosen this year is “The Road to Lasting Peace: Leveraging the Power of Youth for Peace and Security”.
In this context, Burundi joined this Tuesday, June 1, 2021, with other countries to celebrate this International Day of the United Nations Peacekeepers.
In his speech for the occasion, the Minister of National Defense and Veterans Affairs Ir Alain Tribert MUTABAZI indicated that Burundi recognizes the efforts of women and men who defend, on a daily basis, the values of the United Nations Charter in matters of peace, often in very difficult conditions and far from their families and their countries, and paid a deserved tribute to all those who lost their lives in this noble mission.
The Minister Ir Alain Tribert MUTABAZI said that Burundi joined other countries in peace missions by deploying its first contingent in 2007. He indicated that today, Burundi has a staff of 4542 women and men deployed in United Nations and African Union peace missions. A staff of 773 Burundian peacekeepers is currently deployed at MINUSCA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Central African Republic), MINUSMA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali) and UNISFA (United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei), he added.
The Minister of National Defense and Veterans Affairs explained that through these deployments, Burundi has realized that the success of the mission of peacekeepers is based on neutrality, impartiality, proactivity and self-giving in protection of the population of the mission area. It is this spirit that guides the Burundian soldiers deployed, not only in United Nations peacekeeping missions, but also in the difficult mission to combat terrorism in Somalia.
The Minister of National Defense and Veterans Affairs ended his remarks by reiterating Burundi’s commitment to support peace in the world through its participation in peace missions and that he is even ready, today, to deploy additional troops to MINUSCA as requested by the United Nations.
