Burundian president appreciates Egypt’s aid

CAIRO – 3 December 2017: President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza appreciated Egypt’s medical and educational support to his country, said Egypt’s Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid in a statement on Sunday.

Nkurunziza praised the Egyptian Agency for Development for supplying his country with 2,370 tons of metal to cover the roofs of houses during the period from September 2013 to June 2014 as development assistance, the statement added.

Nkurunziza’s comments came during a meeting with Daoud Lamei, head of the Coptic Church service in Burundi, during his visit to Bujumbura from November 23 to 26, the statement noted. The meeting was attended by Egypt’s Ambassador to Burundi Abeer Bassioni, and representatives of the Egyptian-Burundian Friendship.

Sisi met with Burundi’s Foreign Minister Alain Aimé Nyamitwe in April 2016 to discuss challenges and developments in Africa. He acknowledged bilateral ties between the two countries and praised Burundi government’s efforts to reach a common ground in terms of the water-sharing agreement with the Nile Basin countries.

On August 18, Egypt delivered the second batch of medical aid to the Burundian side through the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD). Egypt had made several contributions to support Burundi’s people in light of the unrest, and promote bilateral cooperation, the statement continued.

Burundi entered its worst political crisis since the 2005 civil war, when President Pierre Nkurunziza's attempt to re-elect a third presidential election sparked opposition protests. Thus, there has been a Burundian refugee population since April 2015, as well as some 37,000 Burundian refugees who had sought asylum in the region prior to April 2015, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)’s data.

In March 2017, Egypt sent a convoy to deliver nutritional, medical, educational and recreational aids to Burundians. Two months earlier, a delegation of the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy had also visited Burundi in the framework of an Egyptian plan to promote cooperation with African states.

In July 2016, Egypt refrained from voting on the UN Security Council’s decision to intervene in Burundi, stressing that Burundi’s stance towards the intervention should have been taken into consideration to ensure its cooperation.