Signature of a Specific Convention between the Republic of Burundi and the Kingdom of Belgium

He continued by emphasizing that that program represents in half of the budget that Belgium plans to contribute to the development of Burundi in the next five years.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO assured the partners that his Ministry and the sectoral Ministries represented at that session, will bring together their best efforts, their know-how and their unwavering will so that the financing granted can achieve the agreed objectives. He also expressed his wish that that newly resumed Belgian-Burundian bilateral relationship would be more harmonious and crowned with more success; that the fruitful, dignified and respectful partnership which had made Belgium the leading partner in terms of the dimensions of cooperation before 2015 regains a solid footing in a respect of openness, trust and mutual respect which has always characterized their relations.
On Wednesday December 20, 2023, the Republic of Burundi and the Kingdom of Belgium, represented respectively by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO and Ambassador of the Republic of the Kingdom of Belgium Mr. Michaël WIMMER signed the Specific Convention which formalizes the adoption of the new bilateral cooperation program 2024-2028.
For him, that is the first direct bilateral cooperation program after the removing of the sanctions in February 2022, a program worth 75 million euros aligned with the National Development Plan of Burundi 2018-2027 at the level of the Strategic axes. The Specific Agreement signed sets up a Joint Consultation Committee for the implementation and monitoring-evaluation of the agreed actions. It further specifies the responsibilities and obligations of the parties, the status of the expatriate staff, monitoring, evaluation and resolution of disputes in the event of suspension, termination and modification of the program.
  He ended his remarks by asking the Burundian authorities to work together in order to meet the needs of the population, particularly in terms of health, education and food security.

Minister Albert SHINGIRO expressed his very positive appreciation of the recovery and the new dynamism that Belgian-Burundian cooperation brings through that 2024-2028 cooperation program. He welcomes the signing of that Specific Convention which is a political reaffirmation of the common desire of those two States in reinforcing and strengthening their relations of friendship and direct collaboration.



In his speech, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Burundi said that that new program demonstrates the Belgium’s desire to remain engaged in Burundi. “Belgium will remain determined to stand alongside the Burundian people and the country’s development”, he added.
He ended his speech by wishing the participants in that session a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the year 2024, a year full of blessings, peace and happiness.

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