The President of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye declared on Thursday that, 60 years after the country’s independence, “the restoration of peace, security, stability and social cohesion are a reality” in the nation.
“The only enemy that remains a threat to citizens, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is common to all of us, is poverty,” Evariste Ndayishimiye declared.
The president stated this while speaking at UN Headquarters on the third day of the high-level week of the General Assembly.
The Burundian leader noted that his country celebrates, in 2021, six decades of independence and membership in the United Nations.
“It is, therefore, a moment to remember that the United Nations played a big role because since the end of the First World War, Burundi was managed under the mandate of the League of Nations and then of the United Nations,” he said.
“Not only in the face of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also the consequences of these repetitive crises that have been perpetrated in the country with complete impunity,” he explained.
To overcome these difficulties, he said his Government identified a number of priorities in the National Development Plan of Burundi, PND 2018-2027. He called the initiative “an ambitious and transformative program that can accelerate the process of socio-economic development.”
He also noted that his country welcomes refugees and Burundians who return to their country. He explained that, since July 2020, more than 75,000 refugees returned voluntarily, adding to more than 50,000 who returned without going through specialized UN agencies.
“With peace and security restored, Burundian refugees, including political actors, are returning overwhelmingly and are greeted with love and dignity,” he affirmed.
