Synthetic report of the plenary session related to the information message from His Excellency the President of the Republic of Burundi addressed to the Parliament of Burundi to inform them about the deployment of a contingent of Burundi National Defense Force in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The year two thousand and twenty-two, on the twenty-sixth day of august, the Honourable senators met in the senate’s hemicycle in Gitega for the 101^st session of the sixth legislature. That session was related to the hearing of an Information message from His Excellency the President of the Republic of Burundi addressed to the Parliament of Burundi concerning a deployment of a contingent of Burundi National Defense Forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The session was chaired by the Senate Speaker, Right Honourable Emmanuel Sinzohagera. It was attended by 31 senators and it started, as usual, by a prayer, at 10:32.

Opening the session, the Senate Speaker welcomed the Honourable senators who were present before presenting to them the modified programme.

The Senate Speaker thought it was time to invite the Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock as well as the Minister in charge Industry, Trade and Tourism for an oral question with debate.

After the presentation of that modified programme, the Honourable senators adopted it unanimously.

After the adoption of the programme, the Chairman of the session read the information message of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Burundi for the senators, the purpose of which was to inform the them on the deployment of a contingent of the National Defense Force of Burundi in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Concerning that letter, the Senate Speaker indicated that the Constitution of the Republic of Burundi, in its articles 255 and 256, provides that the President of the Republic may authorize the use of the armed force within the limits determined by the Constitution and the laws, especially in the defense of the State, in the restoration of order and public security and in the fulfilment of international obligations and commitments. He officially consults the competent authorities empowered for this case and informs the Parliament promptly and in detail on the reason or reasons for the employment of the national defense force, the place where this force is deployed and the period for which this force is deployed.

After the presentation, the session which was held in an atmosphere of harmony ended at 11:07 with a prayer.