JOINT COMMUNIQUE
----------------------------------
 
At the invitation of His Excellency Pierre NKURUNZIZA, President of the Republic of Burundi, His Excellency Sharif Sheikh AHMED, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, paid a working visit to Burundi from 10th to 13th March, 2009.
 
His Excellency Sharif Sheikh AHMED, was accompanied by a high level delegation, which included, among others :
 
-          Honorable Sharif Hassan Sheikh ADEN, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance ;
 
-          Honorable Mohamed Abdullahi OMAAR, Minister of Foreign Affairs ;
 
-          Honorable Abdalla Boss AHMED, Minister of Water and Mines ;
 
-          Honorable Abdirizak Osman HASSAN, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications ;
 
-          Honorable Mohamed Abdi MOHAMED, Minister of Defence ;
 
-           Mohamed Ali NUR, Ambassador of Somalia to Kenya
 
-          Major General Bashir Mohamed JAMA, Deputy Commissioner General Somali Police
 
The purpose of the visit was :
 
a.      to deliver in person a message of condolences to the Government and the people of Burundi on behalf of the Government and the people of Somalia following the 22nd February, 2009 killing of the 11  African Union peacekeepers from the Burundi contingent  in Mogadishu.
 
b.      to strengthen the cooperation between Burundi and Somalia.
 
His Excellency Pierre NKURUNZIZA and his Distinguished Guest held tête-à-tête discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. The discussions were held in a brotherly atmosphere and mutual understanding.
 
H.E President Sharif Sheikh AHMED, informed his Burundian Counterpart about the priorities of his government which includes peace, security, national reconciliation and development. The President also expressed his appreciation for the role played by Burundi in the Somali peace process.
 
The two Heads of State expressed satisfaction with the brotherly and friendly links between their two peoples and reaffirmed their will to strengthen them.
 
In this respect, they instructed their competent technical committees to make the necessary arrangements to prepare a comprehensive bilateral Agreement of Cooperation.
 
President Pierre NKURUNZIZA acknowledged the enormous efforts made by the Somali people and its leaders in the peace process and reaffirmed the support and solidarity of the people of Burundi.
 
During his stay in the Republic of Burundi, His Excellency Sharif Sheikh AHMED visited in Bujumbura, the Technical School for Islamic Alliance, the Radio Station Salama, the University of Peace and Reconciliation, the Office of the Representatives of the Islamic Community of Burundi, the Military Hospital, the High Institute for Military Officers (ISCAM) and laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the memory of the Burundians peacekeepers who died for peace in Somalia. H.E. went to Muzinda in the Bubanza province where he visited the Craft Military School and at Resha in the Bururi province where he visited a tourist site and a Hotel under construction along Lake Tanganyika.
 
His Excellency Sharif Sheikh AHMED met and spoke with the group of senior and retired military officers that were trained in Somalia during the period of 1974-1976.  They agreed that just as Somalia has helped Burundi in the past to train its forces; today Burundi is willing to help Somalia rebuild its capacity.
 
His Excellency Sharif Sheikh AHMED held discussions with several authorities including; the Senate President, Honorable Gervais Rufyikiri; the Speaker of the National Assembly, Honorable Pie Ntavyohanyuma and former President and Senator, Honorable Pierre Buyoya. The three Burundian leaders congratulated His Excellency Sharif Sheikh AHMED for his election as President of the Federal Republic of Somalia and pledged to assist Somalia in its peace efforts.
 
At the end of the visit, His Excellency Sharif Sheikh AHMED expressed thanks to His Excellency Pierre NKURUNZIZA, the Government and people of Burundi for the warm welcome and African hospitality extended to him and his delegation.
 
His Excellency Sharif Sheikh AHMED extended an invitation to His Brother and Friend His Excellency Pierre NKURUNZIZA to visit Somalia. The invitation was gladly accepted and the dates of the visit will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.
 
Done in Bujumbura, 13th March 2009.