The Government was commended by the National Assembly for initiating the new territorial division of the country, reducing the number of provinces from 18 to 5. This announcement was made on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, by the first Deputy Speaker during his closing speech for the regular parliamentary session of August 2023. The speech was delivered on behalf of the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Right Honorable Gelase Daniel Ndabirabe, who was on a work mission abroad. Honorable Sabine Ntakarutimana also praised Burundi’s election as a member of the Human Rights Council (HRC) for the period 2024-2026. While this election recognizes Burundi’s commitment to promoting and protecting human rights, she expressed concern about the ongoing cases of corruption and injustice in the country.

The event was attended by guests from various backgrounds, and the first Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly thanked them for their presence, which demonstrated their interest in the work of the National Assembly. Honorable Sabine Ntakarutimana also commended the deputies for their multifaceted efforts during the session.

Overall, the National Assembly expressed its appreciation for the Government’s initiative in restructuring the country’s territorial divisions. The election of Burundi as a member of the Human Rights Council was seen as a recognition of the country’s commitment to human rights. However, concerns were raised about the persistence of corruption and injustice in the country. The presence of guests from different backgrounds was acknowledged and the MPs were praised for their hard work during the session.