The 1st Deputy President of the Republic of Burundi His Excellency Therence Sinunguruza has called for a joint committee made up of representatives from all the Partner States to observe elections in the EAC region in future.
H.E. Sinunguruza, representing President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, made the call as the First Meeting, Fourth Session of the Second East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) officially got underway today at the National Assembly of Burundi. The meeting is being held in Bujumbura under the chairmanship of the Rt. Honourable Abdirahin Abdi, the Speaker of EALA.
The Deputy President said: “I am grateful to the EAC and EALA in particular who were here to observe the election and ensured that Burundians adhered to the set electoral rules and regulations”.
The Deputy President noted that the successful and peaceful elections in Burundi and Rwanda were a clear indication of how highly President Nkurunziza of Burundi and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda valued their involvement in the EAC integration process.
”The success of peacefully organized elections has shown to the world that Burundi as a country has reached maturity as far as political matters are concerned,” he said.
H.E. Sinunguruza affirmed he had no doubt that the upcoming elections in Tanzania and Uganda would be peaceful as had happened in Burundi, Rwanda and during the referendum in Kenya.
He further noted that Burundi had immensely benefited from the EAC, a relationship that had made the country economically and socially vibrant and said the country is positioning itself to full take advantage of the EAC Common Market that came into force in July.
The Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon. Abdirahin Abdi in his speech saluted President Nkurunziza on his re-election and for ensuring a peaceful election period as he had promised.
The Speaker also hailed the President for involving all key political stakeholders in the new Government he announced upon re-election, which the Speaker described as "a gesture which we must all applaud", adding, "It is our sincere hope that all the other parties support these initiatives for the sake of peace and development of this nation”.
Delivering a vote of thanks on behalf of the EALA Assembly, Hon. Dr Masha Lwanyantika, hailed the President of Burundi for ensuring that the elections in Burundi were held in conformity to EAC standards and promised that the EALA would push for the creation of a joint elections committee from the Partner States as proposed by the Deputy President.
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
https://www.eac.int
