Seychelles and Burundi discuss ways to strengthen their relationship |28 April 2023

President Ramkalawan congratulates Ambassador Buruku on his accreditation (Photo: Joena Meme)

New ambassador accredited at State House

Burundi’s new ambassador to Seychelles, Alexis Buruku, presented his credentials to President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House yesterday morning.

Speaking to the press shortly after the ceremony, Ambassador Buruku said that he and the President discussed ways to further strengthen the relationship between their two countries.

“We are looking forward to achieving something concrete, not only on papers and in speeches. We are thinking of creating a general agreement that will lead to a joint commission,” he said.

He said with this general agreement, Seychelles and Burundi will explore different areas of cooperation such as tourism, maritime and trade.

He said he is glad that all the authorities and officials support and welcome the idea.

He added that Seychelles and Burundi should also revisit a drafted agreement addressing connectivity and taxation.

“Those are also the MoU that we need to work on, because they have been drafted but with the circumstances of time, there was no effective follow up,” he said.

Following the accreditation ceremony, Mr Buruku also called on Vice-President Ahmed Afif and he is also expected to hold talks with other government officials including the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, SylvetreRadegonde, the Minister for Entrepreneurship, Industry & Investment, Devika Vidot and the president of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Oliver Bastienne.

Burundi and Seychelles established diplomatic relations on July 15, 2002.

Mr Buruku replaces Isaïe Ntirizoshira who was accredited to Seychelles since March 2015.

Mr Buruku will be based in Pretoria, South Africa.

Diane Larame