Russia Diplomats' Day, EAC Secretary-General Exclusive Interview and more
The Briefing Issue #34, Monday, February 10, 2020
Dear RegionWeek Reader,
On February 10, Russian diplomats mark their professional day – Diplomats’ Day, which was established in October 2002 by the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The date itself is closely associated with the history of Russia’s first foreign affairs agency – the Ambassadorial Department (or “Posolsky Prikaz” in Russian). On February 10, 1549, the Ambassadorial Department, established by Czar Ivan IV, was first mentioned in official chronicles.
On this occasion, the Embassy of Russia in Burundi held a press conference. Russian Ambassador Valéry Mikhaylov responded to the questions from the press members in Bujumbura.
“In the context of the May presidential elections in Burundi, Russia is sure that the elections will be inclusive and fair and will be organized in full compliance with Burundian laws. Russia considers the elections as an internal affair of Burundi and speaks out against any form of interference in the affairs of a sovereign state. Russia will welcome any choice of the Burundian people. We also consider it important that the elections should be organized without violence and in a calm and stable context.”
One of the prospects for the future of Russia is to center its cooperation with Burundi on economic and commercial development level than on political relations level which is currently quite stable and firm, Ambassador Valery A. Mikhailov promised
Read Also: Diplomacy: Russia interested in enhancing cooperation with Burundi
Russia in Africa
As the World Economic Forum's Geostrategy platform notes, through its African strategy, Russia does not seek to compete against other outside forces but focuses instead on bringing added value to Africa in the form of projects it has to offer. Cooperation between Russia and Africa is solidly rooted in 3 shared values:
• Commitment to decolonization: Unlike Western and a number of Asian countries, Russia has never subjugated Africa, neither politically nor economically, and does not carry the burden of the slave trade like the Western World.
• Afro-optimism: Russia does not view Africa as an insurmountable challenge, as a source of a migration threat, or as a failed continent. Historically, Russia has been supportive of the aspiration by the African countries to develop independently.
• Afro-intellectualism: Russia does not see Africa or Africans as ‘inept students’ who do not know anything and are unable to learn. On the contrary, Russia is committed to unleashing the intellectual, technological, and creative potential of the African population and builds its education policy for Africa accordingly.
Read also: What you should know about the New Russian Federation Ambassador in Burundi
THE GUEST OF THE WEEK
RegionWeek Team receives the East Africa Community Secretary-General, Ambassador Libérat Mfumukeko, as our Guest. We recently did with him an Exclusive Interview in Bujumbura, and we will share with you the discussions we had about issues that matter in the region and walk you through the whole interview gradually. Make sure to subscribe and to keep abreast of our Newsletter.
RegionWeek: Burundi is getting ready for May presidential elections; how do you see the process so far made after meetings you had with all stakeholders?
Secretary-General: As you know, we have spent one week in Bujumbura, and we have met different stakeholders, we have held the meetings with political parties and a number of key ministries.
Our meetings with them gave us the assurance that many political parties are part of the process. As we held consultations with over 20 political parties, we see that the process will not be one-party elections. Therefore, as far as I know, all main Burundian parties are part of the process. We saw that many political parties are participating in the process.
We think that the May presidential elections will be inclusive, fair and peaceful. We held consultations with the Ministry of public security and the ministry of Home Affairs and they guaranteed us that they will really provide fair playground for all participants and that all candidates will be protected by the Republic of Burundi in all province and regions of Burundi; that all political parties will be given a chance to organize and make their electoral campaigns.
We have been assured that all state-run and private media will work together for the better coverage on the electoral campaign and that all parties will be given the equal opportunity to voice their ideas and plans during the electoral campaign; therefore, we do not have any reason to doubt the fairness and inclusiveness of the electoral process in Burundi.
READ ALSO: The EAC to deploy the Observation Mission Team to supervise Burundi 2020 elections.
RegionWeek: How has the EAC reacted to President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to not run again in this year's elections?
Secretary-General: The decision of Burundi Head of State, Pierre Nkurunziza, of not running again for 2020 presidential elections was not a surprise because he had already announced that he would not run again, giving a chance to his potential successor.
We think that it is very good for political rules alternation because it gives space to other competitors within the ruling party and opposition parties. Therefore, it is a good sign of Burundi’s implementation of democracy.
Libérat Mfumukeko is a Burundian diplomat and civil servant. He is the Secretary-General of the East African Community (EAC). He was appointed to that position by the East African Community Heads of State on 2 March 2016, to assume office on 26 April 2016 for a five-year term, replacing Richard Sezibera. Prior to that, he served as an adviser to the President of Burundi. He served as the Director-General of REGIDESO, Burundi's energy, and water utility, and was also the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the East African Power Pool. He has a long foreign experienced career, having worked in Cameroon, DR Congo, France, Ivory Coast, Russia, Rwanda and USA.
In tomorrow’s Issue, the Secretary-General, Amb. Libérat Mfumukeko will answer the following questions:
The East Africa Community celebrates its 20th anniversary, what is the leading and exemplary country in the integration process, what can other countries learn from it?
Burundi, as one of the EAC member states, underwent a political crisis and unrest in 2015, at which extent did that crisis affect the EAC integration process?
What are the major EAC integration achievements in Burundi so far?
Have a wonderful day!
Fabrice Iranzi
Founding Editor, RegionWeek.com
IN THE HEADLINES
Ugandan officials plan to send soldiers and supply equipment to tackle the invasion by desert locusts. The locusts were spotted in Amudat District in the semi-arid Karamoja sub-region at the weekend. Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda held an emergency meeting with officials on Sunday night to strategize on how they will tackle the locusts, which have already wreaked havoc in parts of northern Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia.
The meeting resolved to deploy 2,000 soldiers to the region on Monday. The state will also provide manual and motorized spray pumps to fight the locusts. It has set aside $4 million for dealing with the locust invasion. ( The East African)
The FBI and the Department of State today welcomed 42 Kenyan police and intelligence officers to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where they will spend the next 12 weeks undergoing counterterrorism training to prepare them for the establishment in Nairobi of the first Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) outside of the U.S.Personnel drawn from Kenya’s law enforcement; and national security agencies will learn about the FBI JTTF techniques, protocols, and tactics and will work in coordination with FBI personnel in Kenya.
The attendees will be trained and equipped to handle sensitive counterterrorism intelligence shared with the Kenyan government. A goal of the initiative, funded by the State Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism, is in line with U.S. efforts to enable foreign partners to successfully investigate and prosecute terrorists before they conduct attacks. An attack in 2019 by the Al-Shabaab terrorist group on a Nairobi hotel that left more than 20 people dead, including one American, helped lead to the JTTF Kenya initiative. (FBI)
—END—
We understand that it is exceptionally difficult for business leaders and highly productive Professionals to stay current on all important news. We filter the news, to bring to you concise information about game-changing events and insights.
We compiled all the key briefings of January in One document (PDF), updated with all the developments that occurred after we published the daily briefing, we sell it at $5, if you want to receive of RegionWeek January Briefings a copy click here, we will send it to you.
----
RegionWeek is a Burundi-based media for a new generation of achievers in Africa, a platform devoted to chronicling the journey to Freedom and Empowerment.