Burundi and the European Union resumed dialogue at the highest level on Monday, December 7, with an audience that the Head of State Evariste Ndayishimiye granted, at the Ntare Rushatsi House, to the Representative of the European Union in Burundi in company of the ambassadors of the member countries of the European Union having their residence in Bujumbura, reviving the hope of renormalizing relations between Burundi and the European Union after five years of disagreement on a number of issues.

The last formal discussions between Burundi and the European Union were held in March 2016 when the Council unilaterally concluded the consultation procedure with Burundi under the Article 96 of the EU-ACP partnership agreement, known as the Cotonou Accord.

Burundi has never ceased to remind its partner that the invocation of the Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement with regard to the situation in Burundi had been unexpectedly , in May 2015, in the wake of the insurgency and upheavals that led to the coup attempt of May 13, 2015.

The Government of Burundi has always accused its partner, the European Union, of being the sponsor of this instability, while the European Union has suspended direct financial support to the State of Burundi, including budgetary support, accusing Burundi of “not respecting democratic principles and values, human rights and the rule of law on the basis of the Cotonou Agreement and the principles set out in the Arusha Agreement”.

As recognized by the interlocutors of the President of the Republic, the moment is well chosen given the situation of peace and security which prevail throughout the national territory, the massive return of refugees, the warming of relations with Rwanda, without forgetting the role that Burundi is playing on the regional and international scene in addition to the diplomatic successes achieved by Burundi to the extent that it was withdrawn from the political agenda of the UN Security Council.

The European Union ambassadors in Burundi said “it is high time we resolved misunderstandings with mutual respect” and appreciated President Evariste Ndayishimiye’s soothing speech and his policy of openness, which constitute “a solid basis for the resumption of good cooperation between the European Union and Burundi in a dynamic of mutually beneficial and advantageous partnership , the quicker the better “.

The two sides agreed to be free from the past and look to the future by rebuilding their relationship. Based on the 6 priorities of President Evariste Ndayishimiye including good governance, public health, education, agriculture and livestock, free healthcare for retirees and youth development, the ambassadors of the European Union in Burundi promised to do their best to ensure that the European Union supports the responsible and laborious institutions of Burundi in this new impetus towards development, in accordance with the priority areas contained in the National Development Plan 2018-2027.

The President of the Republic recommended this dialogue to continue on the technical level at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , confident that the success of the reestablishment of good relations between the European Union and Burundi is already on the good track.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Claude Bochu, Representative of the European Union in Burundi indicated that they were received by His Excellency the President of the Republic at their request. He commended the climate in which the meeting took place and insisted that this meeting was the first since 2015. For Mr. Claude Bochu, this announces a better future in relations between Burundi and the European Union.