SUMMARY REPORT OF THE PLENARY SESSION OF DECEMBER 23, 2024

In the year two thousand and twenty-four, on the twenty-third day of December, senators gathered in the Senate hemicycle in Gitega for the 219^th plenary session of the sixth legislature under the chairmanship of the Right Honourable Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA, Senate Speake,  to proceed with:

• the analysis and adoption of the bill ratifying by the Republic of Burundi the protocols amending the Convention on International Civil Aviation, established during the 39^th session of the General Assembly of the Organization of International Civil Aviation (ICAO) in Montreal, October 6, 2016; 

• the adoption of the modified programme of activities which were planned for the period from December 18, 2024 to January 6, 2025.

This session which was attended by 27 senators and a Government Representative, Mrs Chantal NIJIMBERE, Minister of Commerce, Transport, Industry and Tourism, began as usual, with a prayer at 11 a.m. 53 minutes.

Opening the session, the Senate Speaker first welcomed the senators and, subsequently, after addressing a word of welcome to the guest, granted him the floor to present the preamble for the bill under analysis.

In her presentation, the Minister indicated that Burundi ratified, on January 19, 1968, the Convention relating to international civil aviation signed in Chicago, on December 7, 1944, during the 39^th session of the General Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) held in Montreal, Canada on dates from September 27 to October 6, 2016 where the participants decided to amend Article 50, paragraph A and Article 56 of this Convention.

Indeed, the preamble continues, the amendment to Article 50 of the Convention provides for increasing the number of members of the ICAO Council from thirty-six to forty, while for Article 56, its amendment provides the increase in the membership of the Air Navigation Commission from nineteen to twenty-one, to enable it to benefit from the expertise and experience arising from the various operational skills and knowledge that Contracting States will bring to bear its disposition.

After the preamble and the presentation of the report of the committee on the merits, the floor was given to the Honourable senators to ask questions for clarification.

Asked whether there would not be a shortfall for our country due to the non-existence of Burundian companies, the Minister explained that the loss is enormous. She mentions in particular the price of the air transport ticket which remains high, the number of tourists who come to the country remains low, the lack of facilities in terms of international competition and also the lack of employment opportunities.

Regarding whether the country would have a plane registered in Burundi, the Government Representative responded in the negative. However, Burundi plans to have some via the public-private partnership, she mentioned.

As for the advantages of being a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization while the country does not have any planes in its company Burundi Airlines, Mrs. Marie Chantal NIJIMBERE indicated that although the country does not have its own transport planes, it has an international airport operated by other foreign companies which, on the other hand, contribute to the country’s economy.     

After this debate, the bill was put to a vote and was unanimously adopted by the 39 voting senators, among whom 27 present and 12 proxies.

The elected representatives of the people continued the session with the unanimous adoption of the modified schedule of activities that were in progress.

The session, which took place in a climate of total understanding, was closed at 13:00.