EALA speaker advises Burundi MPs on peace

By Joyce Namutebi                                  

THE Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Daniel Kidega has urged parliamentarians in Burundi to work towards restoration of peace in the country, whose economy, he says has been destablised.

At its first plenary sitting in Kigali, Kidega expressed concern about the unrest and violence in the EAC member state.

“Many lives have been lost, others maimed, peace disrupted, property damaged and the economy destabilised following the rapid escalation of violence and the instability over the last few months. The situation is worrying and could be dire and grave,” Kidega said, according to a press release issued today.

“I have recently had the opportunity of meeting with the President of the Senate of Burundi and called upon him to rally the country’s legislators to go above and beyond the call of duty in restoring stability,” he said.

Recently Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the East African Community (EAC) petitioned the regional assembly urging it to urgently undertake a number of actions within its mandate to contain the situation in Burundi.

Representatives of the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) and the East African Civil Society Organisations’ Forum (EACSOF) presented the petition to Kidega in his Chambers in Arusha. The petitioners want EALA to, among other things, make strong recommendation to the Summit of EAC Heads of State that Burundi should not assume the rotating Chairmanship of the EAC until it resolves the political, human rights and humanitarian crisis in the country, a press release issued by the Assembly Senior Public Relations Officer Bobi Odiko said. The petitioners further urged the Assembly to call upon the Chair of the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments of the African Union to take concrete steps towards preventing Burundi from descending into genocide or mass atrocities.

Addressing the Assembly, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame called for concerted efforts in addressing challenging issues notably insecurity, bad governance and corruption as the region works towards realising the regional economic bloc’s Vision 2050.

The President’s remarks were delivered by the President of the Senate, Bernard Makuza, at the commencement of the 3rd Meeting of the 4th Session of the 3rd Assembly in Kigali.

Kagame reiterated that all East Africans must eradicate the “business as usual” mindset and strive towards progress of strengthening integration.   

Related to the story

UN commends Museveni on Burundi peace efforts

Burundi president hastily sworn in for third term