SUMMARY REPORT OF THE PLENARY SESSION OF OCTOBER 1, 2024

In the year two thousand and twenty-four, on the first day of October, senators gathered in the Senate hemicycle in Gitega for the 208th plenary session of the sixth legislature to consider the following points:

• analysis and adoption of the program of activities for the period from October 2 to 18, 2024;
• analysis and adoption of the bill ratifying by the Republic of Burundi an agreement between the Government of the Republic of Benin relating to visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, official, service and ordinary passports.

The work of the session was led by Right Honorable Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA, Speaker of the Senate. This session which saw the participation of 34 senators and a Government Representative, namely the Minister of East African Community Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture, Mr. Gervais ABAYEHO, began as usual, with a prayer at 11:14 a.m.

After welcoming the august assembly, the President of the session then presented the draft program of activities to be carried out and the latter was adopted unanimously.

At the end of the adoption, the President of the session subsequently invited the Government Representative to present the preamble of the aforementioned bill.

In his presentation, the Minister indicated that Burundi is keen to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation with countries with which it has long-standing good relations. Thus, the agreement in the field of external relations and economic development cooperation between Burundi and Benin dates from April 11, 2010. In order to further increase the freedom of movement of its people, continues Gervais ABAYEHO, the State is increasing the signing of visa exemption agreements for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports. For the case of Benin, there is a further step because even holders of ordinary passports will benefit and this Agreement will ultimately allow nationals of the two countries to travel easily while respecting the principle of equality and reciprocity.

The Agreement will be based on five pillars, namely the attraction of investors, technology transfer, promotion of trade and tourism, progressive industrialization and infrastructure development.

Asked by elected officials whether the country would have a surplus to export to Benin, given that for the targeted products, production seems to be in deficit, the Minister indicated that Burundi currently does not have a surplus of agricultural production for export. However, explains Gervais ABAYEHO, the agreement targets other varied sectors of cooperation, notably tourism, entrepreneurship and many others.

Regarding Benin’s opportunities that could attract more Burundians, the Government Representative responded that Burundians will have a lot to learn from Benin’s experience in several areas of the country’s life such as the technology system of information and telecommunications (ICT), the field of development of economic zones, fishing and rabbit farming, the development of the agricultural processing industry to name but a few.

After this fruitful exchange, the bill was put to a vote and was unanimously adopted by the 39 voting senators, including 34 present and 5 proxies.

The session, which took place in a climate of perfect understanding, was closed at 12:08 p.m. with a prayer.