This Friday Burundi and Cuba marks 50 years of diplomatic relations that dates back to 2 February 1974.
“Two years later, on 11 October 1976, technical cooperation relations were established with the signing of the Economic and Scientifico-Technical Cooperation Agreement,” part of the press release reads from the Cuban ambassador to Burundi based in Kampala.
According to the Cuban embassy, more than 250 Cuban health workers have offered Cuban medical cooperation in this sister African nation and almost a hundred young Burundians have been trained in Cuban universities through the scholarship programme provided by the Cuban Revolution since 1961.
“Currently, 16 young Burundians are studying medicine on the Caribbean island. Cuba appreciates Burundi’s firm traditional position in support of the Cuban resolution at the UN against the blockade and the African Union declaration on the same issue,” a statement reads from the Cuban embassy.
President Evariste Ndayishimiye led the Burundi delegation to the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Group of 77+China, held in Havana on 15-16 September 2023.
During this visit, the Foreign Ministers of Cuba and Burundi held a bilateral meeting, signed a Political Consultation Agreement between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs and another Visa Waiver Agreement for diplomatic, official and service passports.
Prior to that, from 4 to 9 September 2023, the Secretary General of the ruling CNDD-FDD Reverien Ndikuriyo led a Party delegation on an official visit to Cuba.
The second by a leader of that party to Havana, where a Cooperation Agreement between both ruling parties was signed.
According to the statement from the embassy of Cuba, Burundi’s ruling party CNDD-FDD Secretary General stood up in defence of the Cuban people during the Seventh Conference of the African continent in Solidarity with Cuba, held in South Africa in January this year.