Press Release

Signing Ceremony for the Bilateral Framework Agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Burundi

Bujumbura, Burundi  | Wednesday, December 12, 2007

U.S. Ambassador to Burundi, H.E. Patricia N. Moller, and the Minister of External Relations, H.E. Antoinette Batumubwira, signed a strategic framework agreement today to officially launch a new development cooperation accord between Burundi and the United States of America. The signing ceremony took place in the office of the Minister of External Relations in the presence of Ministry and Embassy officials, including Ms. Cheryl L. Anderson, Regional Director for East Africa of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Since independence in 1962, the United States has played an active role in supporting Burundi's development. Over the past 45 years the United States government has provided over $680 million in official development assistance alone. This assistance has taken many forms, including economic, food, humanitarian, military, as well as technical assistance provided through the Peace Corps Volunteer Program.

In 1996, as a result of the nationwide crisis and the overthrow of the democratically-elected government of President Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, USAID evacuated its personnel from Burundi and all official government-to-government assistance was halted. During this difficult period for Burundi, however, the U.S. Government remained engaged in the country and actively stepped up humanitarian assistance through non-governmental organizations to help the internally displaced and other vulnerable populations.

With the return of a democratically-elected government in 2005, the United States immediately began to increase its development assistance. From a level of under $10 million in 2006 USAID has requested the United States Congress to nearly triple the USAID assistance to Burundi to $28.6 million in 2008. These funds, which are in addition to other sources of U.S. monies for Burundi, will be concentrated in new programs promoting agro-business development, maternal and child health programs, and good governance. In addition, the United States will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to help Burundi cope with the effects of conflicts and natural disasters in the Great Lakes Region.

This new agreement formalizes a framework under which the governments of the United States and Burundi can carry out development work and is an important indicator of the strengthening relationship between Burundi and the United States of America. It will serve to encourage further exchanges between both public and private entities of both countries.