SUMMARY REPORT OF THE PLENARY SESSION OF AUGUST 30, 2023

In the year two thousand and twenty-three, on the thirtieth day of the month of August, senators met in the hemicycle of the Senate for the 152^nd plenary session of the sixth legislature to rule on the following points:

• The draft programme of activities planned for the period from September 4 to 22, 2023;
• Bill No. 1/…..of……/…../2023 on the ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the agreement between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Burundi concerning the regulation of the employment of Burundian workers in the State of Qatar;
• The bill on the ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the agreement between the Government of the Republic of Burundi and the Government of the Republic of the Maldives on mutual visa exemption for nationals of the two respective countries;
• The billon the ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the framework agreement on the cooperation in the Nile River basin.

The session was led by the Senate Speaker, Right Honourable Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA, and was attended by 32 senators and two representatives of the Government, namely, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO and the Minister of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, Doctor Sanctus NIRAGIRA. It began, as usual, with a prayer at 9:43 am.

After welcoming the august assembly, the Speaker of the session first presented the modified programme of activities which were planned for the period running from August 14 to September 1, 2023 and the latter was adopted unanimously.

Then, the Honourable Senators continued the session with the presentation by the Speaker of the Senate of the draft programme of activities planned for the period running from September 4 to 22, 2023. After analysis, the program was adopted unanimously.

At the end of the adoption of the programme, the president of the session invited Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO to present the preamble of the first bill on the agenda of the day.

In his presentation, the Minister indicated that the agreement aims not only to bring into force the regulation of the movement of workers from Burundi who wish to go to Qatar to work there, but also to strengthen good relations of friendship and cooperation between these two countries as well as the exploitation of job offers in Qatar in several areas which may interest Burundian youth.

This agreement will also contribute to the fight against youth unemployment and the substantial fight against human trafficking both at national and international level, concluded the Minister.

After the preamble and the presentation of the report of the responsible Committee, the opportunity was granted to the Honourable Senators to ask questions of clarification under the general debate.

About the exact number of workers from Burundi who are already sent since Burundi began signing this type of agreement, the Government representative responded that only a workforce of 1,402 workers from Burundi have already been sent to Saudi Arabia, adding that others will be sent as requests are expressed.

As for the concern of Honourable Senators that following these agreements, Burundi may be deprived of a creative and experienced workforce, the Minister reassured the people’s representatives by telling them that the number of young job seekers is far higher than the demand expressed through these various agreements.

Regarding the monitoring mechanism for these workers in difficulty in the host countries, Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO indicated that relief is provided through the joint monitoring commissions which have been set up.

As for whether the contracting parties cannot consider visa exemption to make it easier for families to visit their loved ones in case of difficulties, the Government representative answered that families do not have enough means to conduct such visits. In the event of force majeure, the Minister added, the individual is repatriated using the guarantee funds provided for such cases by the recruitment associations.

After these clarifications, the bill was put to a vote and adopted unanimously by the 39 voting senators, including 32 present and 7 proxies.

After a short break, an opportunity was once again granted to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to give the preamble of the second bill.

In his presentation, the Minister indicated that this bill aims to simplify travel formalities for citizens of Burundi and nationals of the Maldives who travel to the territory of the other contracting party. This agreement will not only facilitate high-level exchanges which contribute to further strengthening diplomatic and cooperation relations between our two countries, but also open the way to economic, commercial and tourist opportunities by promoting contacts between Burundians and Maldives.

Unlike other similar agreements already signed, specifies the Minister, the visa exemption concerns all categories of people including holders of ordinary passports and traveling for any reason whatsoever.

As the bill did not raise any questions, it was immediately put to a vote and adopted unanimously by the 39 voting senators.

After the vote of the first two bills presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, another member of the Government was invited. It is Doctor Sanctus NIRAGIRA, minister of Agriculture and Livestock. The chaiman of the session gave him the floor to present the preamble of the last bill.

For him, the cooperation agreement in the Nile Basin will correct the historical injustice against the countries upstream of the Nile River. Its ratification, explains the Minister, will allow equitable sharing of the waters of the Nile between all the countries of the Nile Basin which currently need it for their development.

Thus, after the presentation of the report by the president of the responsible Committee, the opportunity was granted to the Honourable senators to ask questions for clarification.

A single question attracted the attention of the representatives of the people who wanted to know what the Government of the Republic of Burundi plans to benefit from the waters of the Nile like other countries. In response to this concern, the Minister indicated that many projects are being developed, in particular:

• the project to rehabilitate the southern spring of Rutovu to attract tourists;
• the project to build a dam between Burundi and Rwanda on Kanyaru river which will irrigate nearly 1,400 ha;
• the project to build the dam on Ruvyironza river of 10 Megawatts. This will also permit to irrigate the surrounding fields;

After these clarifications, the bill was put to a vote and it was unanimously adopted by 39 senators, among whom 31 present and 8 proxies.

The session, which took place in a climate of perfect understanding, closed at 12:57 p.m.