By Moses Havyarimana,
BUJUMBURA Burundi
The Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi arrived at Melchior Ndadaye International Airport in Bujumbura on Saturday evening for a three-day state visit to Burundi.
He was received by Burundi’s
Foreign Affairs minister Albert Shingiro before meeting President Evariste
Ndayishimiye at State House Bujumbura.
President Tshisekedi was
honoured at Burundi’s State House (Ntare House) with a 21-gun salute and tree
planting to mark his visit.
After a closed-door meeting,
the DRC leader said the two countries are seeking to strengthen bilateral ties
and economic cooperation in agriculture, defence and security, and railway
project.
This is the first visit for Mr
Tshisekedi to Burundi since his country’s admission into the East African
Community (EAC) in March this year. He last visited Burundi in June 2019.
DRC has been galvanising
support from EAC countries to stem rebel activity in its eastern frontier which
borders four member states, including Burundi.
Last July, Presidents
Ndayishimiye and Tshisekedi signed several agreements in Kinshasa during the
former’s visit to the country. They included cooperation development;
maintenance and strengthening of peace, defence and security; trade
facilitation; and political and diplomatic consultations.
“We are looking at common
interest areas that include the railway project which will link Tanzania,
Burundi and DRC,” President Tshisekedi said at a press briefing in Bujumbura on
Saturday.
The railway project is
expected to connect Tanzania through the central corridor Uvinza to Musongati,
Gitega and Bujumbura in Burundi and Uvira and Kindu in eastern DR Congo.
While in Burundi, Mr
Tshisekedi will visit two agricultural organisatons, including the main
fertiliser manufacturer Fomi. He will also lay a wealth on former president
Pierre Nkurunziza’s grave.
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