The General Secretary of g7+, Dr. Helder da Costa and the Chief Operating Officer of g7+, Dr. Felix Piedade had a mission to Burundi from 20-23 May 2024 with main objectives to meet with the government officials of Burundi and to share the work of g7+ in 2024. During the visit, the g7+ team met with Minister of Finance, Minister of Defence and Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs in addition to Rector of National University of Burundi.
During the meeting, the General Secretary of g7+ provided update on the work of g7+ particularly the recent g7+ Senior Official Meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone and annual meeting with World Bank and IMF in addition to share two of the g7+ important events, namely; the international conference on security sector reform on August 2024 in Timor-Leste’s and the Head of State Summit during the UN General Assembly on September in New York. Considering that the g7+ charter has been registered at the UN Treaty Division, the General Secretary of g7+ requested the government of Burundi for the ratification of g7+ Charter accordingly to the country’s normal procedure.
Minister of Finance informed that Burundi always participated in the annual meeting of World Bank and IMF and request the g7+ to provide them an opportunity to speak at the forum in the future. Minister also shared that the documentation for ratification of g7+ charter is currently in his desk, still pending due to government other priorities for reforms, he will bring to the Council of Minister sometime in this year.
Minister of Defense of Burundi appreciated the work of the g7+ at the global level and affirms for his readiness to attend the international conference on security sector reform. During the meeting, Minister also provided update on the work of Burundi Defense force and informed that their military forces has participated at the United Nations peacekeeping force in number of g7+ member countries including in Somalia, Central African Republic and Haiti. However, one of the challenges that they face, was the lack of support from development partners in Defense sectors. Therefore, Minister request for g7+ to connect them with any international organizations including UN in the future.
The Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Burundi committed to mobilise their head of state to attend the g7+ Summit of Head of State in the margin of the 79th Session of UNGA in New York in September 2024, considering as an opportunity to increase the visibility of Burundi at the global level. The permanent secretary also expressed his gladness to hear that Burundi has been actively participated in the group of g7+ since in the beginning, therefore, he affirms that Burundi ready and will collaborate with the g7+ for the planned events in the future.
The Rector of National University of Burundi express his appreciation to the g7+ team for choosing the university for sharing the work of the g7+. He requests the g7+ to connect them with the national
university in Timor-Leste for future collaboration in the area of academy including in research. Since the University also has an institute for peace and reconciliation, they request for a possibility of support from the g7+ in their future activities relate to reconciliation, not only between Burundi’s people but also with their neighbouring countries. END.