The President of the Republic, His Excellency Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE, accompanied by the First Lady, Her Excellency Angeline NDAYISHIMIYE enhanced  the ceremonies of exchanging New Year’s greetings with the defense and security forces of Burundi.

These ceremonies took place in the compound of the twenty-second armored battalion which is located in Gitega, the political capital of Burundi. Other high officials of the country participated in those ceremonies  namely  the Vice-President of the Republic, the two ministers in charge of the defense and security sectors, the high commanders of the police and the army and many executives of these two institutions.

It was the President of the organizing committee who spoke first. He thanked the President of the Republic for his presence in those ceremonies, which is a mark of love and sympathy that he carries for men in uniform, he said. He ended by wishing the Head of State on behalf of the organizers the best of wishes for the coming year 2021.

The second interlocutor was the Minister of Public Security. He took a long time talking of the achievements of his ministry with the organization and securing of the 2020 elections, the continuing training of police officers as part of the «project », the fight against corruption as important issues among the successes of his ministry. After his speech, Minister NDIRAKOBUCA offered a gift to His Excellency NDAYISHIMIYE made of a shield, a spear, a bow with his arrows, which he indicated, are symbols of the avant-garde role he plays in defense and the protection of the sovereignty, peace and security of the country.

The third interlocutor was the Minister of Defense and Former Combatants who also welcomed the achievements of his ministry, particularly in securing the 2020 elections and the good performance of the Burundian military in peacekeeping operations. He also spoke of the other achievements of the National Defense Force in other fields of national life such as the protection of the environment within the framework of the project« Ewe Burundi Urambaye ”, the improvement of structures and functioning of the Kamenge military hospital, the establishment of a new national defense policy, etc.

It should be noted that these speeches were accompanied by cultural acts to brighten up the atmosphere.

After these three speeches, it was the turn of His Excellency the President of the Republic to speak. He began by thanking the organizers of those ceremonies in which he is participating for the first time as the Suprme Commander  of Burundi’s defense and security forces. For him, it is a great joy to be among his comrades in arms to whom he wished the wishes of prosperity and good health. He went on to ask the audience to observe a minute of silence in memory of His Excellency Pierre NKURUNZIZA, the Supreme Leader of Patriotism.

The President of the Republic continued hailing the action of the Burundi Defense and Security Forces both within the country and abroad. He asked again to audience to observe another minute of silence in memory of the Burundian soldiers who fell on the battlefield  while defending world peace. He promised to the authorities of the two ministries to work together to resolve the difficulties they face in their daily work.

President NDAYISHIMIYE continued his speech by giving some advices to members of the Burundi defense and security forces. He asked them to respect two sacrosanct principles, namely discipline and political neutrality in their daily mission. “I know that you are among the bodies most solicited by certain politicians, your strength will be defined in your ability to not respond to these solicitations and especially to behave like a father in front of his children, by treating them all equally, “said the President of the Republic before reiterating his wishes for happiness and prosperity to the guests.

After a dinner offered in his honor, His Excellency Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE received, from  the Minister of Defense and  Former Combatants another gift consisting of four cows of improved  breed.