Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye awarded the United States ambassador to Burundi Melanie Harris Higgins with a medal in recognition to her efforts in strengthening the relations between the two countries.
During Burundi’s 60th Independence Day celebrations in Bujumbura on July 1st, President Evariste Ndayishimiye gave the US ambassador Melanie Harris Higgins a medal of honor while emphasizing her commitment to representing Burundi in USA.
“You have witnessed the USA’s quick recognition of Burundi’s positive reforms. Her commitment led towards lifting sanctions on Burundi. The USA even promised to promote/support our development,” said president Ndayishimiye.
As the U.S Embassy in Burundi celebrated its 246th U.S Independence Day earlier on June 29, 2022 the US ambassador welcomed the warm and cordial relation between the two countries and called for democracy. The ambassador condemned Russia’s invasion into Ukraine.
“Since 2020, the U.S Embassy Burundi had not celebrated the 4th of July (American Independence Day) in person due to the COVID pandemic,” a statement reads from the Embassy.
In 1962, the United States established diplomatic relations with Burundi when it gained its independence.
The guests who attended the celebrations included members of the Government of Burundi, civil societies, international and local organizations, and other partners of the United States in Burundi.
“The friendship between Burundi and the United States is expanding every day based on the shared respect of Burundians and Americans here and in the United States,” reads the statement.
The US president Joe Biden decided to lift sanctions against Burundi on 18th of November 2021, 18 months after President Evariste Ndayishimiye took over the office.