The President of the Republic of Burundi and current Chairperson of the African Union, Évariste Ndayishimiye, paid a visit to the Ministry of Defense today. Currently in Addis Ababa for an official working visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the President was received at the Ministry headquarters with a colorful military ceremony led by Defense Minister Engineer Aisha Mohammed and senior general officers.
During their bilateral talks, the President and the Minister held extensive consultations on ways to further strengthen military cooperation between the two nations. President Ndayishimiye expressed his profound gratitude for the sacrifices and pivotal role played by the Ethiopian National Defense Force in restoring peace to Burundi during its past times of instability. He commended the Ethiopian military as a pride of Africa that goes beyond safeguarding national sovereignty to contribute to continental stability.
The President also recalled the successful joint peacekeeping missions in Somalia and praised Ethiopia’s continued contribution to the Burundian military through training and various forms of support. Noting that many Burundian service members have enhanced their capacity through training in Ethiopia, he emphasized that the Burundian defense forces still seek to benefit from Ethiopia’s support and experience. He expressed his conviction that this visit would elevate the military partnership to a new height.
Defense Minister Engineer Aisha Mohammed characterized the visit as a significant testament to the strong partnership between the two countries and a vital opportunity to exchange professional expertise. She affirmed Ethiopia's readiness to intensify cooperation between the respective defense institutions, specifically focusing on military industries and joint training programs. The Minister noted that such collaboration is a crucial step toward ensuring mutual security and fulfilling their shared continental responsibility for regional peace, according to a report by Defense Online Media.
