On Friday, October 6, 2023, a significant working session was held at the National Office of Civil Protection Headquarters. This session marked an important step in the bilateral cooperation between Tunisia and Burundi in the field of civil protection.
The meeting brought together Mr. Abdel Samad Benjeddou, the General Director of the National Office of Civil Protection and the President of the General Assembly of the International Organization of Civil Protection and Civil Defence (ICDO), and Mr. Nibaruta Anicet, representing the National Platform for Risk and Disaster Management of Burundi. Notably, this event coincided with Mr. Anicet's visit to Tunisia, where he was participating in the Arab-African Conference on Science and Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction, held on October 2 and 3, 2023, at the Palace of Congress in the capital city, Tunis.
The session was attended by key personnel from the field of civil protection, underscoring the commitment of both nations to further strengthen their collaborative efforts.
During this meeting, an agreement was reached to establish bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of civil protection. The primary focus of this cooperation includes training Burundian civil protection personnel at the National School of Civil Protection in Tunisia and leveraging Tunisian expertise to establish a civil protection school. Additionally, both parties agreed to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of civil protection between their respective organizations.
This MoU underscores the dedication of Tunisia and Burundi to enhancing their preparedness and response to disasters, ultimately ensuring the safety and well-being of their respective populations. Both parties expressed their optimism regarding the potential outcomes of this strengthened partnership and their commitment to its successful implementation. The signing of the MoU will take place at a later date, symbolizing a formal commitment to these shared goals.