Politics

BUJUMBURA, Burundi — U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation restricting travel from several countries, including Burundi, citing national security concerns, the White House announced Wednesday. The proclamation imposes full travel bans on nationals from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Citizens...

June 3, 2025 | Arusha, Tanzania The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) reconvened virtually on Tuesday, reversing its April 29 decision to halt budgetary proceedings due to financial constraints. This move comes as the East African Community (EAC) grapples with significant funding shortfalls stemming from delayed and incomplete contributions by member states.

ENTEBBE, Uganda— Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye on Tuesday officially handed over the rotating presidency of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the region to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. The handover occurred during the 12th summit of the oversight mechanism at...

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (May 24, 2025) The 19th Meeting of the Bureau of Speakers of the East African Community (EAC) concluded Saturday in Dar es Salaam with renewed calls for unity and integration. However, the gathering also highlighted significant financial challenges, particularly affecting the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), which has managed only one plenary session...

BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Burundi’s media regulator has issued a directive requiring both public and private media to adhere to strict principles of fairness, balance, and equal access during the campaign for the country’s upcoming legislative and communal elections — a move that comes with a warning to journalists and raises fresh questions about press freedom.

NAIROBI, Kenya — Youth and women traders across East Africa are urging governments in the region to remove non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that hinder their participation in agri-food trade, citing high costs, duplicative certification processes, and inconsistent standards as major obstacles. Speaking at the opening of the East Africa Cross-Border Trader Associations Forum on Non-Tariff...

ARUSHA, Tanzania — The East African Community (EAC) on Thursday announced the launch of Phase III of its Regional Network of Reference Laboratories for Communicable Diseases, backed by €12 million in funding from the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW, the German Development Bank. The three-year initiative, scheduled to run from July 2025 to...

GITEGA, Burundi — Burundi officially launched its 2025 electoral campaign with a national ceremony marked by a parade, political addresses, and calls for peaceful, inclusive elections. The event, held in Gitega, began with a parade led by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), followed by national and provincial-level staff, starting with...

BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Burundi’s parliament on Monday elected new members to the executive committee of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (CNIDH), replacing the previous leadership amid ongoing investigations into allegations of financial misconduct. Out of 114 applicants who submitted their credentials to the National Assembly, 21 met the eligibility criteria, including 12...

DOHA, Qatar — Representatives from six countries, including the United States, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reiterated their commitment to peace, stability, and economic development in the Great Lakes region following high-level discussions in Doha aimed at resolving the conflict in eastern DRC. The meeting, held in the Qatari capital, followed...