On June 29, 2022, the United States embassy in Burundi celebrated the 246th day of United States Independence. This event was special for Burundi as it marked 60 years since the creation of the USA embassy in the country. Various guests attended such as members of the Burundian government, civil society, international and local organizations as well as other United States partners in Burundi.

"I am pleased to affirm our pride in maintaining excellent relations of friendship and cooperation between our two countries. And to congratulate myself on the relevance of the programs that are the subject of our cooperation. I am delighted that these relations, which had greatly diminished in intensity, have regained vigor," said Burundi's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Albert Shingiro.

According to the embassy, bilateral cooperation between the two countries is expanding on the basis of shared respect between Burundians and Americans, in the country and in the United States.

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Significant advances

Through its embassy, the United States continues to rely on this cooperation in order to develop diplomatic relations between these two countries.

On the USA side, these relations are characterized among other things by the presence of NGOs and other enterprises composed of Americans and Burundians in the country. For example, Kibuye Hospital in Gitega province and One Acre Fund in Muramvya province. As well as Amazi Water, working in various provinces of the country.

Burundi, for its part, welcomed the lifting, on November 18, 2021, of the state of emergency concerning the situation in Burundi as well as the end of targeted sanctions that targeted certain Burundian personalities. It also welcomed the signing, on February 11, 2022, of an assistance agreement to facilitate a partnership aimed at sustainable development of Burundi, as well as the granting of an amount of 400 million United States dollars.

Burundi hopes, with the support of United States partnership, to accelerate the implementation of the National Development Plan 2018-2027. This Plan responds to the threats of poverty that humanity faces.

Note that since 2020, the United States embassy in Burundi had not celebrated American Independence Day (July 4 each year) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Willy Muhindo