SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE SENATE SPEAKER, RIGHT HONOURABLE EMMANUEL SINZOHAGERA, AT THE CLOSING OF THE ORDINARY PARLIAMENTARY SESSION OF APRIL 2025

Honourable Fisrt Deputy Speaker of the Senate,

Honourable Second Deputy Speaker of the Senate,

Honourable senatros;

Your Excellencies Members of the Government;

Mister Governor of the province Gitega;

Ladies and Gentlemen, Representatives of the judicial authorities;

Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and Representatives of Diplomatic and Consular Missions accredited to Burundi;

Dear Representatives of International Organizations in Burundi;

Mister Administrator of the Commune Gitega

Dear Representatives of the Defense and Security Forces;

Dear representatives of the media;

Distinguished guests, all protocols observed

Ladies and Gentlemen;

1. Permit me first to thank the Almighty God who has preserved us during all these five years that we have just spent together, including these last three months which mark the end of the mandate for which we had been elected by the people since 2020 to represent them. During all these years, God has guided us. We have worked in total harmony and we are completing our mission in good health even though it has been otherwise for some of our colleagues. Please therefore join me in acclaiming our God as a form of thanks for the blessings with which he has blessed us.

2. Distinguished guests, welcome to the Senate, and we take this opportunity to thank you for putting aside your busy schedules to join us in these closing ceremonies of the April 2025 ordinary session, which is also the very last of our mandate. Your presence here demonstrates your confidence in us, and it proves that our collaboration has been frank during these five years that we have just spent together.

Honourable senators;

Distinguished guests;

3. Before resuming with this remark, allow me to thank the Honourable Deputy Speakers as well as the other Honourable senators for their frank collaboration in our constitutional missions, which has enabled us to implement commendable achievements in order to fulfil what we had to do for those who elected us.

4. The road was long indeed, but God guided us since there are among us those who fell ill and those who had road accidents during the outward and return journeys. But in all cases, God always protected us. Notwithstanding this, we would like to inform our distinguished guests that the Senate has lost one of our colleagues, the Honourable Jean-Bosco KURISANSUMA, who was elected in the constituency of Cibitoke. He died during this session of April 2025 which we are closing, on May 14, 2025.

5. We commend the manner in which the Senate organized the burial of this Honourable Senator, during the related ceremonies which took place at the chief town of Mabayi commune, where members of the Senate Bureau, senators and officials of this institution participated massively to join the family of the deceased during the funeral. I would therefore like to ask you to please get up and observe a minute of silence in his memory!

6. During this session of April 2025 that we are closing, and which was the last of the three provided for by the constitution in its article 190, the Senate carried out various achievements provided for by the Constitution of the Republic of Burundi in its articles 192, 193 and 196.

7. In the area of ​​passing laws, during this session that we are closing today, the Senate analyzed and adopted three draft laws which are the following: 

• Bill on budget settlement and report for the financial year 2023-2024; 

• Bill establishing the general budget of the Republic of Burundi for the financial year 2025-2026; 

• Draft law no. 1/12 of June 28, 2017 governing cooperative corporations in Burundi. 

8. Alongside the adoption of these bills, the Honourable senators participated in the session of the presentation of the analysis report of the Court of Auditors on the report of the bill setting the general State budget for the financial year 2025-2026.

9. In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Burundi, on April 10, 2025, the Burundian Parliament met in congress in the chamber of Kigobe, Bujumbura City, to hear the implementation report of the Government’s programme for the first half of the financial year 2024-2025. The latter was presented by Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca.

Furthermore, during this parliamentary session which we have just ended, the Senate met on April 8, 2025, to receive the report, presented by the Burundian Ombudsman, on the achievements of this institution from November 22, 2023, to December 31, 2024.

• Moreover, during this same parliamentary session that has just ended, the Burundian Parliament met in congress on May 12, 2025, at the Kigobe Chamber to attend the swearing-in ceremonies of seven commissioners of the National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH) before the President of the Republic.

• The Senate also carried out other missions, including participating in national ceremonies as well as the various celebrations to which this institution was invited. One example is the solemn opening ceremonies of the 2025 election campaign, which took place in Gitega on May 9, 2025, under the auspices of the Head of State. On May 1, the Second Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Honourable Fabrice Nkurunziza, accompanied by Honorable senators and some of the staff of this institution, represented the Government at the ceremonies for International Workers’ Day at the capital of Kayanza Province.

Also, on April 25, 2025, the First Deputy-Speaker of the Senate, accompanied by the Second Deputy-Speaker, delivered a message of condolences to the Apostolic Nuncio in Bujumbura after learning of the death of Pope Francis.

• On April 7, 2025, in the city of Bujumbura, the Right Honourable Senate Speaker joined other authorities of the country to participate in the commemorative ceremonies marking the 31st anniversary of the assassination of President Cyprien Ntaryamira. In addition, he took part in the ceremonies for the National Patriotism Day, which took place in the political capital of Gitega on June 9, 2025.

Honourable senators;

Distinguished guests; 

• With a view to strengthening cooperation with other Senates, the Speaker of the the Senate of Burundi took part in a meeting held from April 10 to 14, 2025, in Seoul, South Korea, where he participated in the various activities of the Summit for Peace and Human Development organized by the Universal Peace Federation as part of officially launching the meetings which will bring together the Presidents of Parliaments; 

• The Senate Speaker also carried out a working mission to Saint Petersburg in the Republic of Russia, where he participated in the work of the 11th international meeting on the environment which was held from 22 to 23 May 2025.

In addition to this meeting, the Speaker of the Burundi Senate met with his counterpart, the Speaker of the Senate of that country, and they discussed on the cooperation agreements which will soon be signed between these two institutions. Russia agreed to provide funding to Burundi Senate to strengthen its digitalization system in order to facilitate the work of senators and the staff of this institution, especially since the number of senators will be reduced to only 13.

• The Senate Speaker also visited his counterpart in the Republic of Rwanda on June 20, 2025, and they discussed about the role of Senate institutions by strengthening good relations between the peoples of the two countries. 

• At the invitation of the Senate of Morocco and the Association of Senates, Shooras and Equivalent Councils of Africa and the Arab World (ASSECAA), the Honourable First Deputy Speaker of the Senate participated in a meeting held in Rabat, Morocco on April 28 and 29 of this year, where the participants agreed to support and strengthen scientific research, strengthen the computer system and make good use of it for the development of countries.

On the sidelines of this meeting, the Honourable First Deputy speaker of the Burundi Senate met with the Speaker of the Senate of the Kingdom of Morocco who is at the same time Speaker of ASSECAA and they discussed the relations and bilateral cooperation between their two countries as well as the relations between the Senate of Burundi and that of the Kingdom of Morocco.

• Furthermore, from May 9 to 11, 2025, the Honorable First Deputy Speaker of the Senate took part in the 3rd conference bringing together the Speakers of National Assemblies and parliamentarians of African countries held in Uganda in Entebbe to discuss the challenges that threaten the entire world. The theme of the conference was: Towards an African Charter of family, sovereignty and values; 

• The Honorable Second Deputy speaker of the Senate participated in the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from April 5 to 9, 2025, under the theme: “Parliamentary Action for Social Development and Social Justice.”

• Regarding audiences, the Honourable First Deputy speaker of the Senate received in audience the members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on April 23, 2025. Their meeting focused primarily on the progress of the organization of the elections of June 5, 2025, and preparations for welcoming foreign parliamentary delegations who would participate in the elections as observers. This delegation included Russian parliamentarians.

• It should be noted that the members of the Russian delegation were welcomed by the Right Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly and the Right Honourable Speaker of the Senate on June 4, 2025.

The Right Honourable Senate Speaker, along with his two Deputy speakers, also received in audience the UNDP Resident Representative in Burundi on June 24, 2025. He came to say goodbye since his mandate had just ended.

Honourable senators;

Distinguished guests; 

• As the closing of this ordinary parliamentary session of April 2025 coincides with the end of our mandate, please allow us to briefly tell you the major activities which marked this sixth legislature. Since July 20, 2020, following the handover and resumption between the Speaker of the 5^th legislature and the Speaker of the 6^th legislature, the Senate immediately set to work to fulfill its missions in various areas.

• In the area of passing laws, one hundred and sixty-eight (168) bills sent by the government were analyzed and adopted.

• In the area of the control of government action, thirty-four (34) questions were addressed to members of the government who appeared before the Senate to provide clarifications to the senators’ concerns regarding the political and social problems facing the population.

• Thirty-two (32) reports on the working missions carried out by senators inside and outside the country as part of people representation were presented in plenary sessions.

• Senators met sixteen (16) times in plenary sessions to approve the names of candidates appointed by the President of the Republic to the most important positions in the country.

• Senators met twice (2) in plenary sessions to adopt Resolutions, including the one establishing a special committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Senate’s recommendations to the government and collecting the population’s grievances; and the one analyzing the results of the research on the harmful and destructive consequences of the German colonization and the Belgian administrative reform of August 21, 1925.

Honourable senators;

Distinguished guests; 

• We cannot conclude this session without sharing with you other important activities which have been accomplished during our five-year mandate. The Senate hosted the 9^th consultation meeting of the Association of Senates, Shooras and Equivalent Councils of Africa and the Arab World (ASSECA), which was held in Bujumbura, in the Kigobe Convention Centrre, from September 19 to 20, 2022. 

• In the area of the control of government action, the Senators visited the Rusumo Falls hydroelectric power plant, which is shared by three countries: Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania. On the second day of their field trip, the senators visited the Nyavyamo and Nyamuswaga marshes in Kirundo and Muyinga provinces, as well as many other sectors of the country’s life.

The Senate followed, after each six-month period, the reports on the achievements of the ministries, presented by the Prime Minister before the Parliament in Congress.

Honourable Senators;

Distinguished Guests; 

• Regarding other achievements, in 2021, approximately 50 years after the crimes committed against the Hutu people in 1972, the Senate organized five (5) conferences to bring the truth about the events of 1972 to light. During the last conference held on June 25, 2021 in the Senate chamber and which was attended by Burundians and foreigners representing different sectors, Mr. Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, former Head of State, showed that what happened in 1972 was a genocide committed against the Hutu people as evidenced by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 

On that day, the Senate Speaker recalled that these conferences had no other objective than to seek the truth about these events of 1972 and promote reconciliation. 

• The Senate also organized exchange meetings in all the provinces of the country in order to accomplish the mission assigned to senators by the constitution in its article 289. On October 31, 2023, senators received and validated the report resulting from these exchanges presented by the special commission responsible for collecting the thoughts of the population. The purpose of this report was to assess whether we can remove or keep ethnic quotas within the constitution as stipulated in this article 289.

• In order to strengthen the capacities of leaders, the Senate, in collaboration with International Christian Ministries (ICM), organized workshops for governors, administrators, as well as other executives in the country with the aim of sensitizing them not to have the desire for material goods, but rather to have self-control because, as goes the proverb, “a watched pot never boils”.

• On January 30, 2024, the Senate received a donation of computers, buses, and other office equipment from the Senate of the People’s Republic of China (CPPCC). We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the People’s Republic of China for providing us with this donation through its embassy here in Burundi.

• Furthermore, on March 29, 2024, the Senate Speaker opened a caucus of Burundian parliamentarians on the economy. This meeting was organized by the Tax Justice Network (TJNA) and the African Parliamentarian Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation (APNIFFT) in collaboration with the Senate.

• From 20 to 24 November 2023, some senators participated in a meeting of the standing committees of the Pan-African Parliament. The latter took place in Bujumbura in the Kigobe Chamber. In this meeting, issues related to illegal migrants, justice and human rights; cooperation between the parliaments of the member countries of this Pan-African Parliament and the consequences of accessing power through coups d’états were studied.

Honourable senators;

Distinguished guests; 

• We cannot forget to inform you that besides the achievements listed above, the Senate of Burundi has also accomplished other missions, namely: participation in all celebrations organized at the national level, granting audiences to representatives of their countries and international organizations, visiting the population of all provinces of the country, contributing to the granting of the status governing parliamentary officials, giving contributions for the pension of senators and officials from 2003 to 2015 in the INSS and the ONPR, moving and facilitating officials to go down to Bujumbura to their families, helping the population in distress, etc. 

• On February 27, 2024, during the workshop which brought together partners in the development of Burundi, the Senate presented its strategic plan for the period from 2023 to 2027 at the Royal Palace Hotel in the city of Bujumbura. This strategic plan focuses largely on strengthening the capacities of senators and officials of this institution, the organization of meetings between senators and local elected officials, the provision of various materials to the Senate, etc.

Honourable senators;

Distinguished guests; 

• Finally, following the saying that “no man is an island”, we would like to sincerely thank the national and international organizations which have helped us in building the capacities of senators and Senate officials as well as other administrative authorities. Their support has helped us facilitate our work. These organizations include UNICEF, UN Women/Burundi, ENA/Burundi, Swiss cooperation in Burundi, CURDES, International Christian Ministries, (ICM), UNFPA and AFRABU. 

• Our sincere thanks also go to the countries which provided us with assistance in the form of service materials and materials to strengthen the capacities of some senators and staff members. These include the Kingdom of Morocco, Egypt, the People’s Republic of China, France and Russia.

• We conclude our remarks by commending the Honourable Senators for their diligence in their work throughout our legislature. We wish them well as they continue to serve the country, and may they remain worthy individuals. We wish those who will take over the reins every success, and they will be off to a good start, as we have already taken a step forward, especially since no one can ever misunderstand the mission of the Senate.

The number of Senators will certainly be reduced, but the missions remain the same. There will be therefore the need to redouble efforts, and we hope that the Almighty will guide them in their efforts, as they are already accustomed to hard work.

We conclude our remarks by thanking you once again for participating in today’s ceremonies. With these words, we solemnly declare the closure of the ordinary parliamentary session of April 2025.

Thank You,

God Bless you!