Paradise blog
This was said by the Minister for
Foreign Affairs, East African, Regional and International Cooperation,
Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, on arrival in Dar es Salaam from Rwanda.
“It is our collective efforts as the Great Lakes Countries and the EAC
to ensure that Burundi regains its peace and stability,” noted
Ambassador Mahiga.
He said that while in Kigali, he held
talks with Rwandan President Paul Kagame as well as the business
community who applauded efforts by President John Magufuli in
strengthening ties between the two countries and ensuring efficiency at
the Dar es Salaam Port.
Mr Mahiga said that the Rwandan business
community requested for a joint meeting with business people in the
country to discuss other investment opportunities.
He added that President Kagame had
assured him that his country will not back down in ensuring that peace
and stability return to Burundi.
“The president is aware of the
allegations levelled against his country regarding its involvement in
training Burundi refugees bent to instigate chaos in the country.
But he maintained his stance of working
collectively to settle the dispute there,” said Ambassador Mahiga. He
expressed his happiness that Uganda will soon conclude their elections,
which will enable the country’s leader to resume dialogue with
conflicting parties to solve the row in Burundi.
The minister pointed out that judging
from their talks with President Kagame and the business community, the
trip was a good gesture to reinforce bilateral relations between the two
countries that dates back to many years and deeply rooted historically
and culturally.
“President Kagame demonstrated this when
he came to witness the swearing in of our president and when he sent
his foreign minister soon afterwards to visit Tanzania,” noted the
minister.
There have been challenges occurring in
the Great Lakes Regions from time to time. It is thus important to
strengthen the existing relations between countries.
The Ordinary East African Community
(EAC) Heads of State Summit will soon take place and, therefore, the
minister mission to Rwanda was to hold consultations on the agenda as it
will be addressing areas of economic integration.
“Since Tanzania will take over the EAC
chairmanship, it is vital that we get assurance of participation of the
other member states,” he said.
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