Press Alert: Press Conference and 2nd Public Hearing Workshop on the Humanitarian Crisis in Burundi

Posted in Press Release

The East African Legislative Assembly will hold a Press conference on Monday, 25th January at 9.00am to inform the public about the forthcoming 4th Meeting of the 4th Session of the 3rd Assembly that takes place at the EALA Chambers in Arusha until 5th February 2016. The Press Conference shall be addressed by the Speaker of EALA, Rt Hon. Daniel Fred Kidega.

Immediately thereafter, you are invited to cover the 2nd Public hearing workshop on the petition filed by the Pan-African Lawyers Union on the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in Burundi that starts at the EALA Chambers at 10.30 am. The Government of Burundi led by Ambassador Alain Aime Nyamitwe, Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation will make submissions.

The Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution is set to establish the facts of humanitarian atrocities as reported in the petition and to make recommendations to the EALA which will be meeting.

Activity 1

WHAT: Press Conference addressed by Rt Hon. Daniel F. Kidega, Speaker of EALA

WHEN: Monday, 25th January 2016 at 9.00 am

WHERE: EAC VIP Room (Long), Arusha, Tanzania

Activity 2

WHAT: 2nd Public hearing workshop organised by the EALA Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolutions Committee on the humanitarian crisis in Burundi to be addressed by representatives of Government of Burundi led by Ambassador Alain Aime Nyamitwe, Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation

WHEN: Monday, 25th January 2016 at 10.30 am

WHERE: EALA Chambers, Arusha, Tanzania

Kindly confirm your participation for this event to Mr Florian Mutabazi on Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and Mr Bobi Odiko on Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 2.30pm on Saturday, 23rd January 2016.

EALA Public Hearing Workshop on the Republic of Burundi resumes in Arusha on Monday, 25th January 2016

Posted in Press Release

The second public hearing workshop on the Petition filed at EALA by the Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU) on the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in the Republic of Burundi takes place at the EALA Chambers on Monday, 25th January 2016.

According to a dispatch from Bujumbura received by the Office of the Clerk, EALA, a Government of Burundi delegation led by Ambassador Alain Aimé Nyamitwe, Minister in Charge of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will make submissions at the public hearing workshop. In the delegation is Hon. Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, Minister of Public Security; Hon. Léontine Nzeyimana, Minister to the Office of the President responsible for East African Community Affairs and Mr Gélase Ndabirabe, spokesperson of the Ruling Party, CNDD–FDD. Others are Mr Augustin Nzojibwami, leader of the SANGWE PADER Party, Leader of the FNL Party, Mr Jacques Bigirimana, leader of the UPRONA Party, Madame Concile Nibigira and the leader of the Coalition of Parties, Mr Jean de Dieu Mutabazi.

The EALA Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution Committee initially called for the public hearing workshop on 13-16th January 2016 to review the petition by the PALU submitted to EALA in November 2015 on the subject matter.

However, the Assembly received a letter from the Government of the Republic of Burundi vide a letter dated 8th January 2016, indicating their unavailability on the dates (13-16th Jan 2016) but reiterating the desire to participate in the workshop after 18th January 2016.

On Day 1, the Public Hearing Workshop orally received the petition from the six petitioners. The presentation was made on behalf of the petitioners by the Chief Executive Officer of PALU, Mr Don Deya. Immediately thereafter, Members took the opportunity to seek clarifications on the presentation.

On Day 2, the Workshop listened to the contributions from other invited stakeholders comprising of the representatives of Civil Society Organisations and the opposition parties in Burundi.

Chairman of the Regional and Conflict Resolution Committee, Hon. Abdullah Mwinyi said the Monday public hearing is also open to other stakeholders interested in attending, upon prior arrangement.

Once finalised, the Committee shall retreat and prepare its Report which will be forwarded to the Assembly for deliberations at 4th Meeting of the 4th Session which commences in Arusha on Monday, 25th January 2016 through to 5th February 2016.