Burundi Seeks International Support for Development

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Burundi's Second Vice³ President, Gervais Rufyikiri said his government will need $1 billion to implement⁴ its ambitious development program. Rufyikiri said his country should be able to generate 48 percent of the funds and hopes to secure the rest of the money from international donors.

He said Burundi is worthy⁵ of international support because it has made progress in improving socio-economic conditions and stabilizing⁶ the country since a peace agreement with rebel groups was signed in Tanzania in 2006. 

Rufyikiri said that during the past five years, the government has reduced fiscal⁷ fraud and that the organization Transparency International has improved its ranking for Burundi. 

But Burundi's vice president acknowledged that much work still needs to be done to bring down the high levels of poverty in the country and to improve the social welfare of his people.

Rufyikiri said Burundi must resolve its problems of food insecurity and malnutrition⁸.  He said the government must also find a way to meet the energy needs of its people.

Rufyikiri said more women must be brought into decision-making positions.  He said the government is working to provide free primary school education for children as well as free health for all children under the age of 5. He said more must be done to bring down the high levels of maternal⁹ mortality.

Human Rights Watch, which is attending the conference, accuses the Burundi government of human rights violations¹⁰, such as torture, assassination¹¹ and rape¹². The human rights monitoring group said it is concerned about political killings¹³, and threats against civil society activists¹⁴ and journalists, many of whom are imprisoned¹⁵. It is urging the government to strengthen the rule of law, increase the independence of judges, and ensure justice for all people in Burundi.

Vice President Rufyikiri acknowledged that abuses do occur. But he said Burundi is emerging from a decade of war and that it takes time to consolidate¹⁶ all of the elements needed to create a stable peace.

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