After years of civil strife, Burundi enjoys fruits of joining regional bloc

Burundi is struggling to regain its footing after years of internal strife.

But it is the country’s admission into the East African Community that appears to have given one of the world’s poorest nations a major boost.

Joining the regional bloc has opened up the country for investments, trade and tourism.

Two weeks ago, the country hosted a series of high-powered meetings. The meetings included the Lake Basin Development Conference, whose theme was unlocking the overflowing trade and investment opportunities in the basin.

Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, was also host to the East African Legislative Assembly seminar that attracted at least eight Speakers from EAC member states, South Sudan and other regional economic blocs. The country also hosted the EAC Heads of State and Government Summit.

African Union Commission chairman Jean Ping, President Kibaki, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Tanzania Vice-President Mohamed Gharib Bilal and Rwanda’s Prime Minister Damien Habumuremyi were among leaders who were in Bujumbura for the events.

President Kibaki, EAC secretary-general Richard Sezibera and International Conference of Great Lakes Region chief executive Liberator Mulamula paid tribute to Burundi, which is recovering from 12 years of conflict, for successfully hosting the meetings.

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza thanked EAC partner states which have contributed in helping to bring about peace in Burundi.

Vibrant economy

“I appreciate that it is largely on account of becoming a member of the EAC family, that Burundi has been able to transform within a short time, from a relatively isolated country, which was associated mainly with internal civil unrest, to a country with a vibrant economy, improved infrastructure, and a stable socio-political system,” President Nkurunziza said.

He said Burundi’s ability and capacity to accommodate, not only the international conferences, but also to attract foreign direct investments are clear positive indications of the tangible benefits of regional integration.

Mr Sezibera said the regional bloc was helping Burundi and Rwanda to strengthen their aviation industries.

A Kenyan lecturer at Hope University in Bujumbura, Prof Benjamin Mutua, said that there are more than 500 Kenyans living in the country

“Some come and go,” said Prof Mutua, who heads the Business and Economics Department at the university said.

Prof Mutua, who has worked in Burundi for eight years, said: “When we came, there were bombs everywhere. Security is better now. Sometimes we even feel more secure than in Kenya.”

He said language barrier is the main challenge facing Kenyans visiting Burundi as locals mainly speak French and Kirundi.

The country also lacks quality medical facilities, forcing  some of its citizens to travel all the way to Nairobi to access them.

To many Burundians who spoke to the Sunday Nation, integration has been one of the keys to sustainable development.

Ms Mulamula said Burundi is a beneficiary of the Conference of Great Lakes Region initiative for peace that brings together 11 countries.

Ms Mulamula said her organisation had managed to build confidence and trust among former warring leaders of the 11 countries.

“Our natural resources should not be a curse but our source of prosperity,” Ms Mulamula said.

However, she said high costs of living, fuel prices and social media were new threats to security in the region. 

“The threats are no longer militia groups. The guns have gone silent, but we can’t say we are peaceful. We are however happy the region is now working together. It is a good sign things are stabilising but the challenge is to consolidate these gains for the future of the country,” she said.

She said her organisation is trying to bring together the government and the opposition in Burundi.

“My office has become the command post. We meet till very late,” she said.

On November 7, 2008, the international community gave a tough stance to regional leaders to end the war in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and directed them to help ensure peace returned to the country.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, DRC’s Joseph Kabila and Uganda’s Museveni were on the spot at the International Conference on Great Lakes in Nairobi in which leaders urged an end of hostilities between neighbouring countries.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon told seven presidents who attended the meeting to work for peace in the region.

Other leaders who attended the high-level meeting chaired by Mr Ban were Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete, Republic of Congo’s Sassou Nguesso, Burundi’s Nkurunziza and current South Sudan Vice-President Riek Machar.

Ms Mulamula said the pressure from the international community and regional leaders had paid off with stability slowly returning in the Great Lakes region.

A number of EAC institutions, including the PTA Bank, are currently based in Bujumbura. ICGLR is also headquartered in Burundi.

Burundi has also sought support from Germany to establish a forensic laboratory.

Lake Tanganyika Authority executive director Henry Mwima says the lake is another huge resource waiting to be exploited.