On the sidelines of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Burundi’s independence, the President of the Republic, Evariste Ndayishimiye received in audience, on Saturday July 2, 2022, Stéphane Doppagne, the Belgian King’s special envoy for the Great Lakes Region south of the Sahara. The exchanges focused on revitalizing existing bilateral relations between these two countries. He was also carrying a letter sent by the Belgian Prime Minister.
At the end of the audience, Mr. Doppage indicated that he discussed with the Burundian Head of State on the colonial past and the related challenges without forgetting the current challenges for the Burundian population as a whole. They also reviewed various projects that the Burundian president and his government have already launched to move the country forward. In addition, issues of human rights, good governance, the regional situation prevailing in the Democratic Republic of Congo were also on the menu of their discussions.
According. Alain Diomede Nzeyimana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Head of State, Mr. Doppagne thanked the Burundian President for giving him the opportunity to speak in front of the Burundian people during the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Burundi’s independence. According to this special envoy of the Belgian king, this is an eloquent sign in the revitalization of good relations between the two countries.
A delegation of Belgian deputies expected in Burundi at the beginning of September
Regarding the letter addressed to President Ndayishimiye, Mr. Nzeyimana pointed out that the latter mainly relates to actions planned to be carried out by the Kingdom of Belgium to strengthen cooperation relations. Among these, there is a meeting scheduled for the beginning of September 2022 in Burundi in which a delegation of Belgian deputies will participate in order to discuss with the Burundian authorities what should be done to have a common understanding of the past. from Burundi.
Request for access to written documents and other concealed information
According to Mr. Nzeyimana, the president asked that the Kingdom of Belgium be able to grant Burundi access to written documents and many other information kept secret in order to be able to know the history of Burundi effectively. Mr. Ndayishimiye also explained to Mr. Doppagne that what happened in Burundi following the colonial period is an emanation from the colonial past.
To do this, the former colonizers of Burundi must become more involved in the reconstruction of the country by considerably supporting areas aimed at development. And as a result, Burundians will be able to effectively understand and recognize the efforts made by Belgium in terms of strengthening relations.
Mr. Doppagne, however, pointed out that the Belgian king, during his recent visit to DR Congo, condemned the colonial regime in no uncertain terms. This special envoy indeed specified that in Belgium, they started a process of memory to work once more on the colonial past.
