Evariste Ndayishimiye: "It is time to review European sanctions against Burundi"

Audio 14:08

Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, during his interview with RFI and France 24. © RFI / France 24

By: Sonia Rolley Follow |

Clement Bonnerot

18 mins

For the first time since taking office, Evariste Ndayishimiye agrees to give a long interview to foreign media.

For this, he chose RFI and France 24. The president of Burundi was interviewed by RFI's special envoy to Kinshasa, Sonia Rolley, and by France 24's correspondent in Kinshasa, Clément Bonnerot.

He spoke in particular on human rights in Burundi, on the resumption of dialogue with the EU and on the state of relations between his country and Rwanda.

Publicity

Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye has just completed a two-day visit to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the invitation of his Congolese counterpart Félix Tshisekedi. It was a good neighborly visit. Unlike his predecessor, the new Burundian head of state is increasing contacts with his neighbors and seeking to reconnect with his traditional partners, even if the issue of restrictions on democratic space remains a thorny issue. Several Burundian officials remain under European Union sanctions.

The issue of sanctions imposed by the European Union remains a major concern. President Ndayishimiye mentions it several times in the interview with RFI and France 24. " 

It is time to review this decision, I do not see the reasons for these sanctions

 ", explains the Head of State. Burundian, but he recalls that dialogue has already started, including on human rights issues. " 

They will tell us where there are faults, but the vision is common,

 " assures the Burundian head of state. “ 

We all want the protection of human rights and good governance,

 ” he explains.

Asked by RFI and France 24 on the arrests of opponents and in particular members of Agathon Rwasa's party, President Ndayishimyie assures us that " 

criminals want to hide in political parties

 ". And he adds: " 

When he is a criminal, he is a criminal, he has no political party

 ". The Burundian head of state considers that he respects the rule of law, by opening legal proceedings. On the other hand, he denies any disappearance. " 

What I know is that there are criminals who go into hiding in Rwanda and people say they have disappeared,

 " says Evariste Ndayishimiye. And yet the Burundian head of state assures us that there is a " 

positive development

 »In his relations with neighboring Rwanda, he looks back on the last steps taken on both sides.

In this interview, the Burundian president also evokes the determination of his Congolese counterpart to fight against armed groups.

But these rebels hostile to the Bujumbura regime are " 

children of the nation

 ", he says he is ready to welcome them if they wish to return and even to participate in joint operations if the DRC invites him to do so.

Evariste Ndayishimiye denies in any case that his army is already making incursions into South Kivu, it was reported by the UN group of experts last January.

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• Burundi

• Évariste Ndayishimiye

• DRC

• Felix Tshisekedi