By RFPosted on 27-07-2019Modified on 27-07-2019 at 00:36

France tries to calm the game, after revelations about the resumption of its bilateral relations with the government of Burundi, a country under sanctions of the European Union since it is in crisis following the decision of President Pierre Nkurunziza to run for office a third mandate in 2015. Several French NGOs and Burundian opponents accuse Paris of playing the game of a dictatorial regime and turning a blind eye to the massive human rights violations in this country which is the subject of a ICC investigation for alleged crimes against humanity. The Quai d'Orsay denies and speaks of "maintain the thread of dialogue".

France would be part of an observation: for three years the inter-Burundian peace dialogue under the auspices of the region has failed. Similarly, the policy of pressure and other sanctions against the regime of President Pierre Nkurunziza has not given the expected results. She seems to have radicalized yet a little more Gitega.

Paris has decided to change its mind since October 2018, reaching out to the Burundian government through a revival of bilateral cooperation. But the Quais d'Orsay warns, all this is done in accordance with the position of the European Union, which remains also one of the main donors of Burundi despite the end of its budget support to the government.

The $ 50 million for education? This funding will be implemented by NGOs and international institutions such as Unicef .

The "hand-outs policy" is something that is now very common in Africa. now, it is very likely that behind this policy there will be a calculation or an analysis that focuses on the stalemate of the Burundian crisis.

Professor Christian Toubon, Burundi specialist

26-07-2019 - By Esdras Ndikumana

As for its aid in the field of defense, valued at 30,000 euros, it is rather symbolic and is used to finance the training of some officers especially in the field of peacekeeping, still according to the Quai d'Orsay , which emphasizes that there will be no direct funding to Burundian power.

It remains to be seen if this change of course will pay off. This is not the case so far. The French ambassador to Burundi admitted that he had " not yet access to the highest Burundian authorities ", nearly ten months after this change.

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