The East African Legislative Assembly Speaker Daniel Kidega has urged legislators in Burundi to help cement peace, saying this would spur development in the troubled East African country
Rt. Hon Kidega made call when he held talks with the President of the Senate of Burundi, Rt. Hon Révérien Ndikuriyo on the sidelines of the 133rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
“As representatives of the people, you have a role to play in ensuring stability of the nation is maintained,” Rt. Hon Kidega told the Speaker and added: “As Parliamentarians, you are not just the representatives of the people, but you are their voice also and are capable of instilling confidence in the populace.”
The Speaker added that EALA’s position on the situation in Burundi was firmly aligned with that of the Summit for the EAC Heads of State.
The Speaker informed the Speaker of Senate that the regional Assembly had in May-June this year, undertaken a goodwill mission to assess the situation of the refugees from Burundi in Kigoma, United Republic of Tanzania and in the eastern Province of the Republic of Rwanda. The report he noted, was further debated and adopted at its recent sitting in Nairobi, Kenya.
In response Rt Hon Ndikuriyo lauded EALA for the support to Burundi, and said that all stakeholders in the tiny country were committed to finding a lasting solution to country’s problems.
“The Head of State has called for national dialogue”, he remarked and “this shall help realise national consensus”, he added.
He stated the leadership of the Parliament of Burundi, was keen to meet with their counterparts from the Parliament of Rwanda as well to help inspire confidence between citizens of both nations.
Present at the occasion was the Deputy Speaker of the Burundi Senate, diplomats and other EALA senior officials including Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Pierre Claver Ndayiragije and the EALA Senior Public Relations Officer, Bobi Odiko .
