On Wednesday 10 May 2023, the National Assembly adopted the bill on the ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the East African Community (EAC) Protocol on cooperation in meteorological services. This bill was presented by the minister in charge of East African Community Affairs, EAC, Ezéchiel Nibigira.

In presenting this bill, Minister Ezéchiel Nibigira explained to deputies that the cooperation of EAC countries in meteorological services will allow these countries to strengthen national meteorological and climate services.

The cooperation of the meteorological services of the EAC countries allows these countries to develop their capacities in terms of climate monitoring and the production of useful information for the various sectors of socio-economic development.

Cooperation in the field of meteorology is provided for in Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the EAC. This cooperation consists in harmonizing the system for collecting and disseminating data and information.

These meteorological data and information facilitate air navigation, road transport, navigation in navigable inland waters. They also facilitate planning in sectors sensitive to climate variations such as agriculture, various buildings, health, tourism, water resources and others.

In his speech, the President of the National Assembly, Gélase Daniel Ndabirabe emphasized the importance of weather forecasts by saying that if the information given is reliable, allows the population to prepare accordingly.

This cooperation will make it possible to meet the challenges that are currently being observed in some countries, such as the lack of modern equipment and observation stations and the lack of qualified human resources. At the end of discussions on cooperation in meteorological matters within the EAC, the bill was adopted unanimously.

During this plenary session, the deputies asked the minister to transmit to the government their concerns relating to the Gatumba zone, which is suffering from abundant and recurrent floods, and the question of the suspension of fishing on Lake Tanganyika, a measure that the DRC and Tanzania are renouncing to implement.