Bujumbura — Today the senate approved the lawyer Evrard Kiswaswa as the mayor of the city of Bujumbura. He replaces Elias Buregure who was appointed Vice-minister in charge of the Equipment and Public Works in the last cabinet reshuffling.

The senate also approved the nomination of four governors of provinces. They include Juvenal Muvunyi for Kirundo province, Edouard Nduwimana for Kayanza, Pierre Bambasi for Muyinga and Mrs Béatrice Hakorinoti for Bururi. The governors of Kirundo and Kayanza are from CNDD-FDD while those of Bururi and Muyinga are from Frodebu. The senate approved the nomination of four ambassadors as well. The new ambassadors are Pierre Barusasiyeko, Claude Nimubona Gatogato, Mrs Epiphanie Kabushemeye, Gaspard Masavyarabona. The City of Bujumbura has gone without a mayor for two months. President Nkurunziza had twice tried to have Jean-Marie Rurimirije appointed as the mayor of Bujumbura, but he met with the opposition of the senate.

The ruling party has included personalities from Frodebu in the territorial administration for the first time. The approval of Frodebu pary members comes as part of the deals which different political parties represented in the parliament struck in late 2007 in order to resolve the stalemate that had blocked the activities of top republican institutions.