Burundi

Mr. President, Excellency Mr. Dennis FRANCIS, President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly; Excellencies, Heads of State and Government; Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations; Distinguished Delegates; Ladies and Gentlemen, all protocol observed!

1. Allow me to express my sincere thanks to the host country, the United States of America, and its people, in particular the authorities and population of the State of New York, for the very warm welcome and legendary hospitality extended to me personally and to the delegation accompanying me.

2. First and foremost, I would like to reiterate my most heartfelt condolences to the Moroccan and Libyan peoples, who today are mourning natural disasters whose human and material damage is immeasurable. May God comfort the families so sorely tried.

3. Allow me to extend my warm congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Dennis FRANCIS on his brilliant election to the presidency of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Mr. President, Burundi assures you of its full cooperation and wishes you every success in the exercise of your mandate.

4. I would also like to pay well-deserved tribute to Mr. Csaba KOROSI, your predecessor, for his remarkable work during his term.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

5. The time has come to rebuild a peaceful world conducive to progress. We must cultivate trust, mutual understanding, and solidarity.

That is why we welcome the theme that guides us today: "Rebuilding trust and rekindling global solidarity: Accelerating the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all."

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

6. As we gather each year in this forum, and even on other occasions of equal importance, the world continues to face grave existential threats, becoming, unfortunately, ever more unstable and vulnerable.

While trust and solidarity are values that should characterize relations between our States, they have been weakened because we have domesticated them and recreated them in our own image, according to our own interests.

7. We must free them so that they may become shared values.

They must recover their original meaning, which was shattered first by colonization and by the expansion of other selfish ideologies that seek to further entrench the less developed countries for the benefit of the wealthy ones.

In reality, colonization missed its turning point, for it could have created solidarity through the meeting of cultures and skills and through a mutually beneficial partnership, rather than a partnership of dependency.

8. Trust and solidarity subsequently lost their original meaning as a result of the effects of neocolonialism, characterized by multifaceted interference in the internal affairs of developing States, by unjust compensation for raw materials, and by the heavy demands imposed by the Bretton Woods institutions.

From development aid, as it was called a few years ago, to the development partnership in use today, the terms proliferate but all seem equally steeped in bad faith.

Indeed, the terms proliferate to veil this hypocrisy, while the resources mobilized in the hope of economic returns capable of ensuring recovery are, in fact, dwindling.

9. It is important today, Mr. President, to transcend the needs and interests of States, which are often divergent, even difficult to reconcile.

International solidarity must ensure that all countries can interact with one another on an equal footing.

The international solidarity we wish for does not seek to homogenize, but rather to serve as a bridge between differences and even divergences, linking one to another through mutually respectful and beneficial relations.

Mr. President; Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

10. Trust and solidarity should be the foundation on which international relations free of inequality and conflict flourish.

It is, moreover, to this end that in Burundi we are working, first at the national level, to cultivate and strengthen this ideal among our people.

11. Thus, after years of instability, the truth and reconciliation process undertaken in Burundi is today bearing remarkable fruit, for Burundians are now animated by a shared ideal in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.

It is in this spirit that we call on friendly countries and partners to support the action of the Burundian Government, and we strongly encourage foreign investment.

12. However, the sad observation is that official development assistance, which should support the Government's efforts to seek the well-being of citizens, has gradually collapsed in favor of financing directed toward non-state actors serving the undisclosed geopolitical and economic interests of certain "donor" States.

13. International solidarity should clearly encourage developed countries to contribute concretely to the socio-economic development efforts of the least developed countries.

The wisdom of a Kirundi saying, "ntawutungira mu boro," meaning "prosperity is lasting only if it is shared," reminds us that investing in the prosperity of one's neighbor truly guarantees the security and sustainability of one's own progress.

14. This underscores, Mr. President, the urgent need to rethink and strengthen the global partnership, which, in our view, requires debt relief, a substantial increase in resources devoted to the fight against poverty, the strengthening of South-South cooperation, the sharing of technology and innovation, and the expansion of trade agreements.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

15. Despite all these challenges, Burundi remains determined, and we are confident that this General Assembly will help restore trust in my country and give fresh impetus to international solidarity.

The Government and people of Burundi have a real and firm determination to maximize the dividends of the peace and reconciliation so dearly won.

To this end, our rallying cause is the promotion of good governance and the fight against every form of injustice.

16. Indeed, we have engaged in an unrelenting struggle for the sound management of public affairs, and thanks to this determined effort, Burundi has made significant progress in democracy, good governance, and the improvement of the business climate, thus becoming a safe place for investment opportunities and diverse economic activities.

17. In addition, considerable efforts are being made in production sectors that generate mass employment and drive growth.

In this regard, my Government is working to particularly enhance the agricultural sector, which employs a large share of the Burundian population.

That is why we have decided to finance the agricultural sector through the National Agricultural Subsidy Program, which subsidizes fertilizers, selected seeds, and phytosanitary products.

Our action also focuses on developing agricultural research, mechanization, and the use of advanced technologies for agri-food processing, as well as rural infrastructure.

18. To this end, a National Pact for Agriculture has been developed, aiming to establish two agropoles built around four profitable value chains within a short period, as well as a Special Agricultural Industrial Zone.

We want to involve Burundian economic operators and foreign investors in this endeavor.

To implement this plan, the appropriate regulations of the new Investment Code are now highly attractive.

Given its favorable year-round agricultural climate, abundant labor force, and exceptional soil fertility, Burundi is the best destination for anyone wishing to invest in the agricultural sector.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

19. In other sectors, my Government has just updated the Mining Code in order to create an environment conducive to investors in this sector, whose abundant mineral potential remains underexploited.

My Government's ambition is to lift our economy by exploiting natural resources, so as to make Burundi an Emerging country by 2040 and a Developed country by 2060.

20. To win this wager, we are placing youth and women at the forefront, as they are true drivers of socio-economic development through the promotion of entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity.

Indeed, we are counting above all on young people, for there is no more effective weapon than youth in the fight against poverty and in the prevention of conflict.

21. As African Union Champion for the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda, I take this opportunity to advocate for better inclusion and effective participation of young people in the development programs of our respective States.

22. In this regard, I welcomed the General Assembly's decision to establish a United Nations Youth Office, and I commend Secretary-General António Guterres, who proposed this flagship idea as part of his report on Our Common Agenda.

It is in this way that intergenerational trust and solidarity can truly become sources of peace and security for sustainable development.

23. As an advocate of non-discrimination against youth and women, the Burundian Government has chosen to make the most of their many talents and knowledge and to promote their economic empowerment.

Thus, in its determination to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, free schooling in Burundi since 2005 has enabled Burundian girls to access quality education and thereby prepare for active participation in national life.

Over the past two decades, Burundi has improved gender relations in the political arena by setting a minimum of 30% representation of women in the National Assembly and the Senate. This rate is now close to 50% in Parliament, in Government, and in positions of responsibility.

24. Determined to leave no one behind in its drive for socio-economic development, the Government of Burundi spares no effort to promote the emancipation and empowerment of all specific groups within its population.

With this in mind, the Batwa community, long a victim of discrimination, now benefits from an affirmative action policy in the education, health, and housing systems.

Free healthcare for children and pregnant women has also contributed to improving the living conditions of women in general and of Batwa families in particular.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

25. I have taken the time to describe my country's situation to show you that Burundi is indeed back on track, which earns it its rightful place among the community of Nations.

This is a country that has just overcome the difficult periods of its history but that has every asset needed to go very far in its development.

In reality, if Burundi is a burden on development partners today, the situation could change tomorrow if we manage to secure substantial start-up capital to finally leave the category of least developed countries.

Mr. President; Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

26. We want a better world, but it faces a multitude of conflicts, which we must counter collectively with unity and brotherhood. Countries in difficulty need all of us.

It is thus in a spirit of solidarity that, within the East African Community which I chair, we have initiated a series of actions aimed at restoring peace and security in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

27. Burundi also participates in peacekeeping and counter-terrorism operations in the Central African Republic and Somalia, which testifies to the will of the Burundian people to contribute to the advent of a better, more united world.

28. Thus, in reiterating my call for international solidarity for the pacification of eastern DRC, Burundi reaffirms its unwavering support for the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes, as well as for the Framework Agreement for Peace, Security and Cooperation for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region, whose Regional Oversight Mechanism is chaired by Burundi.

29. In this regard, if we insist on restoring trust between States, we should also manage, together, to condemn certain actors fishing in troubled waters who fuel conflicts and expose other States to destabilization.

Let us dare to say it: the political and security instability of countries in the South, especially in Africa, stems from the will of powers seeking to steer the domestic policies of developing countries.

Africa in particular, having become the battleground for the geopolitical confrontations of major powers, continues to fall further behind in terms of economic development. And it is this economic deficit that becomes the cause of internal conflicts, which plunge our countries further into extreme poverty.

30. While we denounce external interference in the affairs of States, we also condemn the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of power, which constitute a serious setback for the democratic gains achieved over many years in Africa and around the world.

Constitutional order and the rule of law must take precedence above all else.

My country reiterates its firm commitment to the peaceful settlement of conflicts through dialogue, cooperation, consultation, and negotiation.

Mr. President; Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

31. Generally speaking, peace, security, and stability in the world seem to be giving way to war, terrorism, violent extremism, crime, and violence of all kinds.

In this regard, as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) prepares to withdraw in the coming months upon the successful completion of its mandate, I would like to salute the professionalism and sacrifice of the troops engaged for peace in Somalia, including the Burundian contingent.

I also take this opportunity to draw the international community's attention to the consequences of the hasty closure of this mission, which risks giving terrorist groups an opportunity to regroup and strengthen.

Mr. President;

32. Regarding the climate crisis, I welcome the commitments already made by States, particularly through the various international consultations on climate issues, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and financing environmental protection, climate resilience, and the green transition for the least polluting countries.

We hope that these commitments will be followed by concrete actions, for the failure to mobilize the 100 billion dollars per year since 2020 under the Paris Agreement, and annually until 2025, endangers future generations.

We believe that COP28, to be held this year in Dubai, will be an excellent opportunity to turn promises into reality.

33. On the intensification of the migration phenomenon, we are all aware of its scale and of the threats to peace and security that result from it.

Indeed, this movement, which worries wealthy countries, is a consequence of poverty, as migrants seeking a better life leave impoverished areas to earn a living in more prosperous ones.

Reducing the scale of migration will necessarily require the adoption of appropriate and coordinated measures enabling young people to improve their chances of finding decent work opportunities, self-employment, or entrepreneurship, in particular through the establishment of programs aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at the national level.

We are called upon to focus our efforts on a global partnership aimed at combating poverty in all its forms.

However, pending a lasting solution, transit and destination countries should understand and provide dignified and humane assistance to migrants and guarantee them the enjoyment of their fundamental human rights.

34. Respect for human rights is a subject on which we all agree. May these rights be universal and indivisible for all!

My country remains opposed to discrimination, the instrumentalization of human rights, and their treatment through double standards.

We condemn States that, under the pretext of protecting human rights, use them as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of other States.

Likewise, we oppose politically motivated resolutions targeting specific States, as well as the implementation of mechanisms that stifle targeted States without any form of constructive dialogue.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

35. Allow me, before concluding my address, to reaffirm our commitment to the democratization of the multilateral system, including the reform of the United Nations Security Council as well as of the international financial system, so as to make them more representative, fair, and inclusive, and better equipped to address the emerging challenges facing the world more effectively.

International law recognizes the principle of the sovereign equality of all States, which must consequently enjoy the same international rights and duties, including in the sensitive areas of the maintenance of international peace and security.

I thank the member States of the Security Council, some of whom understand the wish long expressed by Africa.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

36. On this International Day of Peace, I would like to close my address by paying vibrant tribute to our valiant peacekeepers wherever they may be, for they defend a universal cause that transcends all our differences.

For peace, let us rebuild trust and rekindle international solidarity.

Thank you for your kind attention!