The Head of State of Burundi and current President of the African Union, His Excellency Evarist Ndayishimiye, received in court on 22 October 2026 at the Ntare Rushatsi Palace, Ms. Serap Güler, member of the German Bundestag and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, on a visit to the subregion. This visit is part of the revitalization of the Burundi-German cooperation relations.
Exchanges between these eminent personalities focused on the cooperative relations between Germany and Burundi, the security situation in the subregion and on the African continent, the massive influx of Congolese refugees into Burundi and the socio-economic situation in the country.
At the outset, the Head of State welcomed Ms. Serap Güler, who made her very first visit to Burundi. Recalling the historical ties between the two countries, including their common colonial past, he expressed the wish to see Germany revitalize its cooperation relations with Burundi.
The President of the Republic noted that the Government of the Republic of Burundi has a vision of development designed to guide its progress towards emergence and long-term development. In this context, it invited Germany to support the country in the implementation of priority projects, including those aimed at the economic empowerment of young people.
He also mentioned the possibilities for cooperation in the tourism sector, in particular the modernization of the Gitega National Museum and the development of the historical site of the German Fails. It also requested support in the area of drinking water supply, the transfer of German expertise in mining, and humanitarian assistance for refugees living in Burundi.
For her part, Ms. Serap Güler said that her visit was part of efforts to revitalize cooperation relations between Germany and Burundi. It welcomed the progress made by the people of Burundi in reconciliation and congratulated the Head of State on hosting a significant number of refugees, thus stressing Burundi’s humanitarian commitment.
It also expressed its respect and appreciation to Burundi for its role at the head of the African Union and its involvement in the search for peaceful solutions to the crises affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Sudan and the countries of the Sahel. In this regard, it encouraged the President of Burundi, in his capacity as current President of the African Union, to continue and intensify his efforts to accelerate the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In terms of practical cooperation, the German Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs announced that Germany would contribute to the modernization of the Gitega National Museum. It also reported a €500,000 envelope to support humanitarian action.
Ms. Serap Güler also felt that, thanks to stability and peace, Burundi had important opportunities for rapid development, such as some countries in the Middle East. She stressed that the country had the potential to accelerate its development, provided that it could fully value it.
The visit was concluded on a note of satisfaction, with the German Deputy Minister welcoming the quality of the exchanges with the Burundian Head of State and the prospects for strengthening cooperation between the two countries.