Bienfait Cakweri
President Evariste Ndayishimiye’s recent trips to Cuba and USA have sparked discussions about the outcome of his international trips. At his return in Burundi after 14 days abroad, President Ndayishimiye emphasized the importance of these trips in building a stronger presence of Burundi on the global stage. He also addressed rumours of a potential coup.
During his address at the Melchior Ndadaye International Airport on September 24, 2023, President Evariste Ndayishimiye urged the citizens of Burundi to remain focused on progress and combating poverty, instead of being swayed by rumors and distractions.
While President Ndayishimiye was abroad, many rumors of a potential coup emerged on the internet. President Evariste Ndayishimiye urged the population to disregard such ‘’baseless claims’’ and focus on their duties to drive progress.
In a powerful metaphor, President Ndayishimiye compared Burundi to a lion. Emphasizing the country’s strength and resilience, he warned potential troublemakers stating that a lion does not need to display its teeth or claws to command respect. He said : “No one doubts that the lion has sharper teeth than other animals. Therefore, you won’t see it roaming around showing them off. It is also known that the lion has sharp claws, but you don’t see them when it is passing by. They will only come out when they are truly needed.”
President Ndayishimiye also weighed in on the importance of Burundi participating in high-level international summit as this gives opportunity to other countries to become aware of Burundi’s potential and accomplishments. “Now when a Burundian speaks, they come to listen, because now they know that we are building things.”
The difference between President Evariste Ndayishimiye and his predecessor, the late President Nkurunziza, has been striking when it comes to their International Relations Policy. President Ndayishimiye has been traveling abroad at least once a month, whereas President Nkurunziza hardly made any trips abroad during his entire term from 2015 to 2020, except for a less than three-hour visit to Tanzania in July 2017.
