By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Burundi’s former Foreign Minister has been appointed the new President of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), succeeding Angola’s Gilberto Verissimo.
Ézéchiel Nibigira was appointed to a five-year term at a meeting in Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
With a doctorate in business administration and finance, Nibigira is a member of parliament for Burundi’s ruling CNDD-FDD and a leading figure in the party.
He has also served as Burundi’s ambassador to Kenya and Minister in charge of the East African Community.
Expected to top his agenda is the escalating security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where M23 rebels have displaced thousands of persons.
An ally of the DRC, Burundi has tense relations with Rwanda, which has been accused of backing M23 fighting government-aligned forces in the country.
Rwanda has since announced its exit from ECCAS, accusing the body of siding with DRC over the ongoing violence.
Nibigira will also have to continue to reform the commission and work to restore its credibility after being accused of poor management.
The 11 member bloc was established in 1983 to promote economic, social, and political cooperation, including free movement of people, trade, and the development of infrastructure and human capital.
It aims to foster collective autonomy, raise living standards, maintain economic stability, and promote peace and solidarity within the region and contribute to the development of the African continent.
