Burundi and the Region, this week overview
RegionWeek Newsletter Vol III, Issue #113 | Saturday, August 29, 2020
This is a new version of RegionWeek Newsletter for the 3rd season( July-December 2020). The content targets Business leaders, Decision-makers, and Young professionals with interests in Burundi and East Africa. Subscribe to stay productive, and competitive in a pandemic and disrupted season.
Dear RegionWeek Readers,
My hope is that you are having a nice weekend, this Saturday I would like to share with you key stories that caught our attention this week in Burundi and elsewhere, especially in the East Africa community.
Burundi
Burundi 2020 Electoral process ended on Monday, August 24 with the last scheduled elections for grassroots leaders on hill level. The Burundi National Police announced that they recorded no major incident.
Methodist Pastor Emmanuel Sinzohagera was elected president of the Senate on Tuesday in Gitega, the political capital. He had 38 votes out of 39 votes. A native of Bujumbura province, he succeeds Révérien Ndikuriyo who was the head of the senate since 2015. And last Tuesday former President of the National Assembly was appointed the second Deputy Governor of the Burundi Central Bank (BRB).
This Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at the Nemba border between Rwanda and Burundi located in Nemba Village, Rweru Sector in Bugesera District, Military intelligence officers from Rwanda and Burundi met. At the center of the discussions were security issues that are often mentioned on the border between Rwanda and Burundi and other bilateral relations topics in general.
Over 500 Burundian refugees from Rwanda (Mahama Camp) have returned home. They left Rwanda on Thursday, August 27th.On the Burundian side the same day, a large number of people welcomed the refugees, among them Burundi Minister of State for Home Affairs Gervais Ndirakobuca and Minister of Health Dr. Thaddée Ndikumana. Burundi National Police spokesperson Peter Nkurikiriye told media that Burundi wishes to start receiving refugees from Rwanda twice a week, as it is for refugees from Tanzania.
IN THE REGION
This Friday 28th August 2020, the EAC Regional Electronic Cargo and Driver Tracking System was launched in Namanga on the Tanzania/Kenya border. On 31st August 2020, the system is expected to be launched at Kabanga/Kobero border (Tanzania and Burundi). The tracking system is expected to be the key to the region’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Kenya, Schools and educational staff are severely affected by the Government’s decision to cancel the 2020 school year. The private sector, which brings together 2.3 million primary school pupils, is the most affected. Without their main source of income, tuition fees, some private schools struggle to pay their bills and their staff.
Uganda on Monday recalled its ambassador to Denmark and her deputy after the pair were recorded apparently plotting in a Denmark to steal funds meant to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, reports NewVision.During the meeting, in a video that circulated on social media, Ambassador Nimisha Madhvani, her deputy and other staff members were heard devising a plot to share money which was meant to aid stranded citizens.
Tanzania’s main opposition parties failed to form a coalition Tuesday, dashing hopes of defeating the longtime ruling party in the October presidential election. The national electoral commission said the CHADEMA party’s Tundu Lissu, ACT Wazalendo’s Bernard Membe, and NCCR Mageuzi’s Yeremia Maganja will independently challenge President John Magufuli, who seeks a second five-year term.
Rwanda has extended the duration of its nighttime curfew and banned travel to and out of the western region of Rusizi to deal with the recent rise in the number of cases of the new coronavirus. The first group of Burundian refugees from Rwanda returned home, a result of a new collaboration between the Government of Rwanda, Burundi, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR.
Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye wrote on Twitter: “We welcome our brothers and sisters who have returned from exile in Mahama," he said. It is a great pleasure for their families and for Burundi. ”
“We welcome our brothers and sisters who have returned from exile in Mahama. It is a great joy for their families and for Burundi. Local Leaders are asked to support them at all stages in their repatriation. We encourage others who want to return home, Burundi is all ours. Welcome home!” - He tweeted
Thanks for Reading,
Fabrice Iranzi, RegionWeek.com
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