Press release 18 July 2008
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Sweden plays leading role in UN peacebuilding work in Burundi

Today Sweden will assume the Chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission's work in Burundi. The chairmanship means that Sweden will strengthen its commitment to sustainable peace and development in Africa.

"The international community must become better at preventing countries from reverting to conflict. Sweden's chairmanship should particularly be seen in the light of our greater commitment to post-conflict countries in development cooperation," says Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson.

The UN Peacebuilding Commission is active in Burundi, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau and the Central African Republic. The aim of the Commission's work is to bridge the gap between post-conflict situations and long-term reconstruction, and by doing so, help prevent countries from reverting to conflict.

Sweden's one-year chairmanship will focus on following up the political agreement on peacebuilding agreed between the Commission and Burundi. The UN Peacebuilding Commission was established in 2005.