RegionWeek

23/03/2024

🔴Bujumbura Mayor Hails the “Operation Green Saturday” Initiatives
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Jimmy Hatungimana, the Mayor of Bujumbura City, praised the "Operation Green Saturday" activities initiated by Youth Committed to Environmental Advocacy. YCEA Green.

Mayor Hatungimana expressed this during a networking meeting with the YCEA Green delegation on Friday, March 22, at his office in Bujumbura City town.

During the meeting, discussions focused on various activities and projects related to environmental protection planned to be implemented in the City of Bujumbura.

The meeting concluded with the
Bujumbura City Mayor expressing his commitment to support the initiatives to ensure alignment with Burundi Government development strategic objectives.

Note that “Operation Green Saturday” is a capacity building for the Burundian population, making the neighborhoods, cities, and provinces of Burundi clean and green.

In addition, it is an operation that consists of planting trees and flowers, cleaning, and continuous capacity building of the population and communities to raise their awareness.

10/03/2024

🔴 Over 1000 Trees were planted on Saturday titled Operation "Green Saturday"
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In the framework of tackling climate change and environmental protection, Arsenal fans Burundi association together with YCEA Green (Youth Committed to Environmental Advocacy ) planted at least 1200 trees on March 9th at the border of Ntahangwa River at Jabe in Mukaza commun of Bujumbura Marie Province during the Operation "Green Saturday" day.

During his address, Pierre Chanel Kazungu, president and founder of YCEA Green said Operation "Green Saturday" is one of the programs of the association which was dedicated to activities such as planting trees, cleaning, planting flowers, providing training for environmental protection, and improved climate change solutions.

The YCEA Green president hailed the support of the Arsenal fans Burundi association in planting trees activities which leads to a sustainable and developed country and welcomed other individuals or groupes who wish to join them.

ISSA Abdoul Habonimana, president of Arsenal fans Burundi association, said they chose to work together with YCEA Green as environment protection is one of the programs they also tackle.

“ Climate change is one of the main challenges that hinder the development of the country, thus we chose to work together with YCEA Green as they have a lot of knowledge in this program to be learned from,” Habonimana noted.

The Burundi gov't was urged to support young people’s initiatives in environmental protection activities as well as facilitate them in getting further trainings on climate change.

They also called all Burundians worldwide who wish to contribute to the development of the country through the protection of the environment to join efforts with YCEA Green to make Burundi a beautiful, attractive, and clean country as it was stated by our president.

08/03/2024

Burundi: Woman committed to the fight against climate change, a source of sustainable development
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As the world celebrates International Women's Day on 8th March every year, the Youth Committed to Environmental Advocacy (YCEA Green) sees that a Burundian woman has a crucial role in the fight against climate change.

Nicole HATANGIMANA, one of the members of the YCEA Green Association says that this day reminds them of the important role of a woman in Burundi's development in particular and worldwide in general.

“ When a woman is well educated, has enough proficiency, she becomes a pillar of development of her family, society country, and in the word,” said Nicole HATANGIMANA

Therefore, as women in the YCEA Green Association, we are teaching the young generation, specifically girls, the crucial role they have in the development sector.

“Women and girls are the most vulnerable persons during climate change peptide. Thus, we create awareness through teachings, and media partnerships on ways to protect themselves and how to overcome these challenges” said HATANGIMANA.

She calls all Burundian women all over the world to come and join hands and participate in the YCEA Green Association activities on protecting the environment, providing climate change knowledge and solutions in planting trees, and keeping all Burundian cities clean.

YCEA Green Association also calls on the government and private women's associations to engage women and girl children in the fight against climate change by implementing related projects in schools, and communities so that they may grow while having that knowledge of how to fight against climate changes without being urged to do so.

Youth Committed to Environmental Advocacy (YCEA Green) is a non-profit organisation based in East Africa, acting for the preservation of the planet in order to fight against climate change and its impacts.

05/03/2024

YCEA Green calls on Burundi gov't to provide enough knowledge to the youth about environmental protection
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"I call on the government to put the effort in increasing knowledge on the protection of the environment to a point where everyone does it without being pushed to do it". Pierre Chanel Kazungu, president and founder of Youth Committed to Environmental Advocacy, YCEA Green called during a press conference this Saturday 2nd March 2024.

Kazungu, founder of YCEA Green pointed out that many Burundians including some government officials don’t understand the challenges we are encountering in protecting the environment called "Green war".

He added that in other countries they have reached a point where everyone is conscious of the protection of the environment without being urged to do so.

Kazungu asked the mayor of Bujumbura city, Jimmy Hatungimana to continue with the calling, together with the private organizations, of building the habit of cleaning cities of Bujumbura and other provinces countrywide as it was always been done by YCEA Green.

The president of YCEA Green further said that the government should continue supporting youth by sending them overseas to get profound information so that they may come back to the country with enough knowledge to teach other youths.

This comes after the president of the Republic Evariste Ndayishimiye called Bujumbura citizen specially youths, to protect the environment, plant trees, cleaning the city and decorating it.

30/01/2024

ECOWAS: AU Chairperson calls on dialogue between Regional leaders and Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso
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The Chairperson of the African Union Commission calls on regional leaders to intensify the dialogue between the ECOWAS leaders.

This follows the announcement of the Withdrawal of Malawi, Niger and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS.

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29/01/2024

Tanzania: Zanzibar Vows to Intensify Fight Against Sextortion
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This was said by ZAECA officials during a meeting with women rights activists in Zanzibar under the umbrella of the Zanzibar Female Lawyers Association (ZAFELA), and the Tanzania Media Women’s Association-Zanzibar.

Tanzania’s Zanzibar Anti-corruption and Economic Crime Authority (ZAECA) on Sunday vowed to intensify the fight against corruption.

According to ZAECA, the anti-graft campaign will target all entities including authorities that abuse their powers to obtain sexual favor.

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29/01/2024

EAC calls for cross-border cooperation to counter terrorism, transnational organized crime
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The East African Community (EAC), a regional intergovernmental organization of eight member states, on Friday, called for strengthened cross-border cooperation to counter terrorism and transnational organized crime in the region to facilitate the free movement of goods, persons, labor, services, and capital.

A statement by the EAC headquarters in Tanzania’s northern city of Arusha said the EAC Deputy Secretary General made the call in charge of Infrastructure, Productive, Social, and Political Sectors, Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, at the opening session of a two-day regional conference on Immigration and Border Governance in the Burundian capital Bujumbura.

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28/01/2024

Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso Announce Withdrawal From ECOWAS
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Military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced Sunday their immediate withdrawal from the West African bloc ECOWAS.

The leaders of the three Sahel nations issued a statement saying it was a "sovereign decision" to leave the Economic Community of West African States "without delay".

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26/01/2024

Rwanda: Bank of Kigali Waivs Off Monthly Account Maintenance Fees
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Bank of Kigali has announced January 25, the waiving of monthly account maintenance fees on all personal accounts in local currency, in a move to promote financial inclusion.

The decision comes as a testament of the bank’s commitment to empower people across the income spectrum to participate fully in the formal financial sector.

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25/01/2024

Eastern African Security Chiefs Seek to Enhance Ties in Combating Insecurity
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The Eastern African military and security chiefs met in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi on Thursday to seek strategies of enhancing their cooperation in combating insecurity in the region.

The 32nd Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) policy organ meeting brought together the chiefs of defense and security of the ten member states to discuss how to maintain peace in the region.

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24/01/2024

Mali Gold Mine Collapse Kills More Than 70
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More than 70 people have been killed after a tunnel collapsed at a Malian gold mining site last week, local sources told AFP Wednesday, the latest disaster in a region prone to mining accidents.

Gold mining sites are regularly the scene of deadly landslides and authorities struggle to control artisanal mining of the precious metal.

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23/01/2024

Burundi: Economy to Grow by 4.3pc in 2024, IMF Says
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Burundi's economy is projected to expand 4.3% this year from 2.7% in 2023, helped by improved performance in the agriculture sector, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a statement released on Monday, Jan 21, 2023.

With a population of 12 million, Burundi's economy relies heavily on agriculture revenues, especially from tea and coffee.

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22/01/2024

IGAD: Sudan Suspends Membership in East African Bloc
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Sudan's Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday, Jan. 20 the country has frozen its membership in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an east African bloc.

Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, informed the president of the current session of the IGAD of Sudan's decision to freeze its membership in the bloc, the ministry said in a statement.

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17/01/2024

Burundi: President Ndayishimiye Swears in The New Electoral Commission
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In the presence of the President of the Republic of Burundi GeneralNeva, six new members of the Independent National Electoral Commission were sworn in today, Wednesday, Jan.17 2023 at the Congress Palace in Kigobe.

In attendance were the Ombudsman of Burundi, Aimée Laurentine Kanyana, Emmanuel Sinzohagera President of the Senate of Burundi, Gélase Ndabirabe President of the National Assembly, and other high authorities of the country.

The sworn-in members include two magistrates from the Constitutional Court and a member of the Council for Unity and Reconciliation.

The new electoral members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) were appointed by President Evariste Ndayishimiye in early December 2023.

They were mandated to plan and organize the East African country's 2025 and 2027 elections.

17/01/2024

Khartoum Freezes Dealing With IGAD Regarding Resolving Sudan Crisis
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The Sudanese government on Tuesday, Jan.16 said it has frozen dealing with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regarding resolving the current crisis in the country, according to a statement from Sudan's Foreign Ministry.

Sudanese Acting Foreign Minister Ali Al-Sadiq has informed the regional bloc of his country's decision, it noted.

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17/01/2024

UK Conservative Party Deputy Chairmen Resign Over Rwanda Immigration Bill Vote
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Two deputy chairmen of the British ruling Conservative Party resigned Tuesday, Jan.16 as the lawmakers in the United Kingdom (UK) voted on amendments to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's emergency legislation on immigration.

Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith announced their resignations after voting in favor of an amendment to the legislation.

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16/01/2024

Three Armed Congolese Soldiers Cross Into Rwanda, One Shot Dead
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The Rwandan government confirms to have arrested two Congolese soldiers, and one was shot dead, after they crossed into the country early Tuesday.15, 2023.

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15/01/2024

Under its new strategy for the Great Lakes, EU aims to help transform the root causes of instability into shared prospects
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In a bid to support the transformation of the root causes of instability in the Great Lakes region, the European Union launched its regional programs on Monday, January 15, 2024, at the Club du Lac Tanganyika, as part of its renewed strategy for the region under the theme "Building the future of the Great Lakes region together".

The primary aim of this two-day high-level event is to gather representatives from the EU and its member states, the United Nations and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (IC/GLR), donor countries, NGOs, the private sector and civil society to discuss how the European Union's new strategy for the Great Lakes region can help promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development in the region.

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