Burundi Assumes Au Chairmanship, Pledges To “Silence The Guns”

Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye has pledged to do everything possible to advance the African Union’s “Silencing the Guns” initiative, so that African citizens can live in security, dignity, and hope, after being elected to lead the continental body.

President Ndayishimiye was elected on Saturday at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

It is the first time Burundi has assumed the rotating AU chairmanship, a position held annually among the bloc’s 55 member states, since the African Union replaced the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 2002. The OAU was founded in 1963.

In his acceptance speech in Addis Ababa, President Ndayishimiye declared:

“No African country should ever again be colonised, attacked, or forced to submit to any foreign power in this 21st century.”

He takes office at a time when several parts of Africa continue to face conflict, particularly in the Great Lakes region.

Since late 2021, the M23 rebel group has been fighting the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the country’s east. The two sides recently agreed to a ceasefire once again.

Rwanda has since publicly acknowledged coordination with the M23 in the context of the conflict, while maintaining that its actions were linked to its security concerns. At the request of the DRC government, Burundi deployed troops to support Congolese forces in efforts to restore stability and protect civilians in eastern Congo.

In his speech, President Ndayishimiye emphasised the importance of “peace,” saying its absence had delayed Burundi’s own development.

He said peace and security cannot be achieved in Africa while some countries are attacked “for foreign or economic interests of powerful nations.”

He added that during his AU chairmanship, he hopes to see Africa’s voice speak out strongly in defence of “respect for international law, the sovereignty of our countries and the right of our peoples to self-determination.”

Later, in a message posted on social media platform X, the Burundian president thanked African leaders for the “confidence” placed in him, saying Burundi had accepted the responsibility “with great honour and humility.”

“I sincerely thank African leaders for the trust they have placed in me by appointing me Chairperson of the African Union,” he wrote.

“With great honour and humility, Burundi accepts this responsibility and commits itself fully to serving our continent and its people.”

Among those who congratulated him were DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Kenya’s President William Ruto.

In his speech, President Ndayishimiye said the honour bestowed on Burundi was “historic.”

“My emotions lead me to ask myself: ‘Who am I to lead all of Africa in its direction this year?’” He said.

“I assure you that Burundi will lead by listening, impartiality, and cooperation with all, for the benefit of all.”

He thanked Angola’s President João Lourenço, whom he succeeds, for what he described as important reforms, including improving the AU’s working methods and strengthening decision-making structures.

President Ndayishimiye pledged that Burundi would continue this progress and “strengthen Africa’s voice on the international stage” while contributing to building a more balanced, fair, and inclusive global governance system.

In line with the theme of the 39th AU summit — focused on ensuring sustainable access to clean water and sanitation as part of the AU’s Agenda 2063 — he said Africa cannot achieve development if its people are not healthy and able to work.

“The lack of clean water and sanitation is the root cause of preventable diseases, productivity loss, school dropouts, and increased vulnerability due to climate challenges,” he said.

SOURCE: Article originally translated and rephrased from BBC News