{Five representatives of Burundi in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) have declined to attend the EALA sitting in Kigali citing personal security reasons.}
EALA opened a general assembly which will be held in Rwanda from 6th to 17th March 2017. It is the last sitting before a new parliament is ushered in on 5th June 2017.
Before the sitting that started yesterday, five among nine parliamentarians representing Burundi in EALA informed the speaker, Daniel Fred Kidega, that they could not attend the general assembly in Rwanda over personal security reasons.
As President Paul Kagame officially opened the general assembly, only four Burundian EALA MPs were present, including; Amb Jeremie Ngendakumana, Ngenzebuhoro Frederic K, Dr Martin Nduwimana and Nsabimana Yves.
Absentees are Bucumi Emerence, Jean Marie Muhirwa, Ndahayo Isabelle, Ndarubagiye Leonce and Nengo Emmanuel.
In a press briefing following the launch of EALA General Assembly, the speaker Daniel Fred Kidega has said that Burundians absence won’t interrupt the session.
“To assume a quorum, each country has to be represented by at least three members,” he said.
“Now EALA is complete. I want to highlight it again that five Burundi MPs filed a complaint to me regarding their personal security if they come to Rwanda. It is not for the first time that I receive such a complaint of security problems; but we have a proper way of settling the situation to normal,” he added.
Kidega explained that Rwanda assured full security despite worries of the Burundians.
“I worked with the Republic of Rwanda to ensure all parliamentarians in Rwanda stay in secure hotels and I do appreciate the government of Rwanda,” he said.
The speaker of EALA, Fred Kidega has said that more parliamentarians from other countries have not attended the general assembly noting that all absentees from any countries have to provide explanations.
Burundi-Rwanda relations soured following 2015 insurgency sparked by president Nkurunziza’s bid to run for a third term where the latter accused Rwanda of being behind security breakdown , an accusation Rwanda denied.
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