Latest news with #ÉvaristeNdayishimiye
Daily News Egypt
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
AU Appoints Burundi President as Special Envoy to the Sahel Region Amid Regional Tensions
The African Union has appointed Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye as its Special Envoy to the Sahel and Sahara region, tasked with initiating dialogue and supporting peace efforts across the area, which continues to reel from military takeovers and political instability. The announcement was made by Angola's President João Lourenço, who currently chairs the AU. The appointment comes despite the suspension of three Sahel nations—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—from AU activities following military coups that ousted civilian governments. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), President Ndayishimiye said he accepted the role 'with responsibility and humility.' A diplomatic source in Bujumbura described the appointment as a recognition of Ndayishimiye's success in reintegrating Burundi into the international fold, reversing years of isolation under his predecessor. Ndayishimiye, who currently serves as the AU's First Vice-Chairperson, also holds a leading role in COMESA (the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa), and is known for his engagement in international diplomacy and support for youth empowerment. Although he lacks direct experience in the Sahel-Sahara region, the AU has increasingly looked beyond regional boundaries in its envoy appointments—most recently naming Togo's president to mediate in the eastern DRC crisis. Observers note that Ndayishimiye's military background and alignment with many of the values shared by leaders of the Sahel alliance could help ease communication with the region's transitional authorities. The three Sahel countries, which recently formed their own confederation, remain suspended from the AU following their military takeovers.
Al Etihad
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Etihad
UAE President, VPs congratulate President of Burundi on Independence Day
1 July 2025 11:40 ABU DHABI (WAM)UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to President Évariste Ndayishimiye of the Republic of Burundi on the occasion of his country's Independence Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, sent similar messages to President Ndayishimiye and to Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca on the occasion.
Al-Ahram Weekly
27-06-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Burundi and Egypt celebrate inauguration of JIJI hydroelectric power plant - Foreign Affairs
In a landmark event for regional development and energy access in East Africa, the Government of Burundi officially inaugurated the JIJI Hydroelectric Power Plant, a transformative project supported by Egypt through its leading private sector, ORASCOM Construction. Presiding over the inauguration ceremony, Burundi's President Évariste Ndayishimiye hailed the JIJI–Mulembwe hydroelectric project as a strategic milestone, underscoring its contribution to the country's National Development Plan 2040 and its vital role in expanding access to electricity. Before the project, only six percent of Burundi's population had access to energy. Representing the Arab Republic of Egypt, Ambassador Amira Abdelrahim Ali Mostapha reaffirmed Egypt's unwavering commitment to sustainable development across Africa through public-private partnerships. "The JIJI project, realized by ORASCOM, exemplifies Egypt's pledge to support Burundi's development agenda," she said. "It reflects our broader commitment to international, regional, and triangular cooperation." Ambassador Abdelrahim also announced that additional Egyptian companies are preparing to enter the Burundian market, particularly in infrastructure, water, and transport sectors — a move expected to bolster local economic resilience and human development. "I congratulate ORASCOM on their outstanding performance," she added. "As an Egyptian, I take pride in their professionalism and their reputation across Africa. Their projects consistently demonstrate environmental responsibility, social impact, and alignment with the goals of sustainable development." The JIJI–Mulembwe hydroelectric complex, developed with €320 million in financing from the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the European Union, is expected to supply up to 235 GWh of electricity annually. The project is expected to benefit more than 15,000 households, 7,000 businesses, and 1,700 industrial facilities, significantly strengthening Burundi's energy security and economic output. Edward Claessen, the EIB's Head of Energy for the region, praised the project as "a major step towards Burundi's energy self-sufficiency," noting its alignment with global goals for clean, reliable, and inclusive energy. The JIJI–Mulembwe complex now stands as a model for South-South cooperation, demonstrating how African expertise and private-sector engagement, backed by multilateral finance, can deliver transformative infrastructure that uplifts communities and anchors sustainable growth. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Burundi's ruling party seeks to tighten grip on power
Voters in Burundi are heading to the polls amid a backdrop of surging inflation, fuel shortages and complaints of political repression. Seats in the National Assembly, Senate and local councils are up for grabs but Évariste Ndayishimiye is safe in his role as president as he is serving a seven-year term that ends in 2027. The elections will test the popularity of the governing CNDD-FDD party, a former rebel group which has been in power for the past 20 years. The East African nation was already one of the world's poorest countries, but residents there have been put under further pressure by a recent spike in the price of goods such as food. Opposition parties have complained that their supporters have been harassed and intimidated by members of the CNDD-FDD's youth league, the Imbonerakure. Gabriel Banzawitonde, leader of the APDR party, said: ''People are so intimidated that they tell you they cannot wear any party colours other than the ruling ones'. But he said they were not giving in and "once in the voting booth, they promise to vote for you". Several political analysts approached by the BBC declined to talk about the elections for fear of repercussions. One expert, who did not want to be named, said: "To avoid unnecessary trouble, you keep quiet." ''We pointed out from the start that everything was being tailor-made [to fit the ruling party]," they said, suggesting that a CNDD-FDD win was a done deal. Recently, some party officials have even been suggesting that a one-party system may be beneficial for Burundi. Over the weekend, secretary-general Reverien Ndikuriyo told supporters that "to reach development, all countries started by having a single party''. Even though this is not historically accurate, the president has also made similar claims. "Yes, when it becomes single [the only party], we'll reach development,'' Ndikuriyo said. However, he confusingly added: "'Don't let foreigners infiltrate you [and tell you] that the party wants to be single." Chronic shortages of foreign currency, which is needed for imports such as medicine and fuel, have led to a decline in Burundi's economic activity. Analysts say that Burundi now runs on less than one month's-worth of foreign currency reserves for imports, while the regional standard is to have at least four months. Queues of cars stretching from service stations for around 100m (330ft) have become a common sight. They often last for days or weeks as motorists wait for fuel, which is being rationed by the authorities. According to the World Bank, the annual domestic income of an average Burundian in 2023 was $193 (£142), the lowest within the East African Community trade bloc. Faustin Ndikumana, an economist and anti-corruption activist, believes Burundi's situation will not improve any time soon. ''Good governance has to be established. We're not there yet,'' he told the BBC. But the governing party and its leader hold an opposing view. President Ndayishimiye has said residents of Bujumbura, Burundi's largest city, "looked bad in 2005" but now "had money to buy shoes, new clothes and to build a house''. And the CNDD-FDD often responds to criticism by reminding Burundians that the party fought for the Hutu ethnic group - who make up the majority of the population - to access power, after four decades of what they considered as oppression by the minority Tutsis. Rwanda planning to attack Burundi, president tells BBC 'Mpox made my throat so painful I couldn't sleep' Burundi leader to get $530,000 and luxury villa Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Euronews
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Burundi president claims Rwanda plans to incite war in his country
ADVERTISEMENT The president of Burundi has claimed that neighbouring Rwanda is planning to foment a conflict in his country, warning that it is backing a rebel group in an effort to destabilise its neighbour, citing "credible intelligence". In an interview with the BBC, President Évariste Ndayishimiye claimed that Rwanda's plan resembled what is happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where a long-established paramilitary rebel group, M23, has swept through key parts of the country in an effort to seize control. The group is widely thought to be supported by Rwanda, which denies taking any direct role in the conflict. In his interview, Ndayishimiye claimed that the Rwandan government intended to first trigger instability and then claim it had started without external involvement. "They would say it's an internal problem when it's Rwanda (who is) the problem," he said of the government led by his counterpart, President Paul Kagame. "We know that he has a plan to attack Burundi. Burundians will not accept to be killed as Congolese are being killed. Burundian people are fighters." Ndayishimiye also accused Rwanda of fomenting a failed coup in Burundi in 2015, but said he had no intention of going to war. "We don't have any plans to attack Rwanda," he said. "We want to resolve that problem by dialogue. "We are calling on our neighbours to respect the peace agreements we have made. There is no need for us to go to war. We want dialogue, but we will not sit idle if we are attacked. We don't have anything to ask (of) Rwanda, but they refuse because they have a bad plan — they wanted to do what they're doing in the DRC." Ndayishimiye has not provided any evidence for his claims. Rwanda has rejected Ndayishimiye's words as "surprising" and said there was no plan to spark conflict in Burundi. The government in Kigali has also denied links to rebel groups in Burundi and insists the two countries are cooperating to secure their border. A crisis deepens Meanwhile, Burundi is seeing its largest influx of refugees in decades as tens of thousands of people flee the fighting in the eastern area of DRC. According to the UN World Food Program (WFP), as Congolese government troops fight Rwanda-backed rebels who now hold two major cities, the number of registered refugees who need food assistance has doubled since January and now stands at 120,000. The decades-long conflict in eastern DRC escalated in January when the M23 rebel group seized the strategic city of Goma. The following month the group took the city of Bukavu, which lies less than 30 miles from the Burundi border. The presidents of DRC and Rwanda met last week in Qatar for their first direct talks since the cities were seized. M23 is one of about 100 armed groups vying for a foothold in the mineral-rich region. The conflict has created one of the world's largest and longest-running humanitarian crises, displacing more than 7 million people displaced over the years. ADVERTISEMENT Many of those displaced to neighbouring countries including Burundi have escaped lethal violence only to face serious food insecurity. WFP warned yesterday that its funds for operations in Burundi are 'stretched to the limit' and likely will be exhausted in June. It said it might have to "suspend food assistance entirely' from July or earlier.
