URUGWIRO VILLAGE - The outgoing Burundian envoy, Serge Karonkano, yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Paul Kagame to bid farewell and also discuss relations between the two neighbours.

Speaking after meeting President Kagame at Urugwiro Village, Karonkano who has been Burundi’s Ambassador to Rwanda for the last 4 years, said the two countries ‘enjoy cordial relations’.

"I told the President that I really enjoyed working in this country and I will always reflect on the time I have been here. I have worked with the government and the people of Rwanda and I have learnt a lot here,” he said.

"First of all I commend President Kagame for restoring peace and stability in the country. No country can develop without stability and that’s why Rwanda is progressing in all sectors. This is one of the lessons I will take home.”

The Burundian diplomat hailed Rwanda for promoting good governance and democracy and letting people have a say in the day-to-day running of the country. He added that Rwanda also played a major role in the return of peace in Burundi.

Karonkano, who is yet to know his new posting, said the two neighbours have a lot to share and learn from each other and that the people of the two countries live in harmony and criss-cross each others borders without any difficulty.

The envoy who has been doing his final rounds bidding farewell to different government officials, including the Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliamen,t said relations between both countries have improved especially after the two countries joined the East African Community (EAC).

He said that Rwanda’s success in the education, health, gender parity, tourism, infrastructure and agriculture sectors, among others, offers good examples for Burundi to emulate.

Karonkano was appointed the Burundian Ambassador to Rwanda in September 2006 and during his mandate, he partly served as the Dean of African diplomats accredited to Rwanda.

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