Burundi and Rwanda move along to the next diplomatic rung
RegionWeek Newsletter Vol V, Issue #193 | Tuesday, October 19, 2021
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Dear RegionWeek Reader,
This Tuesday Burundi has handed over to Rwanda eleven fighters of Force Nationale de Libération (FLN) after talks between military intelligence chiefs of Burundi and Rwanda, at Nemba border post in Bugesera District located in the Eastern province of Rwanda.
Brigadier General Vincent Nyakarundi from the Rwandan side and Colonel Ernest Musaba from Burundi, United Nations, and African Union delegates hailed the initiative and described it as a mutual will to restore the bilateral ties.
In July 2021, Rwanda extradited 19 combatants of Red Tabara, an armed group that has been fighting the Burundian government since 2015.
Rwanda's Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta, met with his Burundian counterpart Amb Albert Shingiro on the sidelines of the 76th United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.
The two officials exchanged on matters of bilateral relations between our two countries, and the road to normalization.
After the recent initiatives on both sides, various sources evoke and confirm the eminent meeting between President Evariste Ndayishimiye and President Paul Kagame even though it is not clear yet if the meeting will be held in Burundi or in Rwanda. Analysts mention that the meeting will be the opportunity to reopen borders between Burundi and Rwanda.
IN THE HEADLINE
This Tuesday, October 19, 2021, President Evariste Ndayishimiye received the Resident Representative of the African Development Bank, Mr. Daniel NDOYE who reaffirmed the ADB's willingness to cooperate closely with the Burundian government in the implementation of the various development projects underway in Burundi.
The two personalities mentioned a number of projects financed by the African Development Bank, in particular, the Rumonge-Gitaza road construction project where President Evariste Ndayishimiye insisted on the assurance of efficiency which should characterize this work. Mr. Daniel NDOYE said AfDB is committed to working for the better sustainability of investments for the benefit of the beneficiary population.
IN THE REGION
Intra-COMESA export trade drops by 11%
The value of Intra-COMESA total exports declined by 11% from US$ 10.9 billion in 2019 to US$ 9.7 billion in 2020. The low performance was attributed to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and pre-existing factors such as supply-side challenges and prevalence of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs).
According to an update presented at the ongoing 37th Meeting of the COMESA Trade and Customs Committee, 13 – 15 October 2021, the low intra-regional trade resulted from existing gaps in the information available on trading opportunities, regulatory requirements in markets, and factors that inform business decisions on the production of goods and trade.
The meeting brings together to trade and customs experts representing governments from the 21 Member States and will deliberate on issues that affect regional trade and integration. Key among them is how to get all Member States to participate in the COMESA Free Trade Area (FTA)
Thanks for reading
Fabrice Iranzi, Editor in Chief | RegionWeek.com
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