European Union renews sanctions against Burundi
Flags of the European Union in front of the seat of the commission.
(Illustration) © afp.com/Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The European Union renews its sanctions against Burundi until October 31, 2022. The country has been under economic sanctions since 2015 due to human rights violations under the chairmanship of former president Pierre Nkurunziza.
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“It's a good thing, but we want it to continue until these violators are brought to justice. The decision to renew the sanctions is a political decision while we are in the process of having a legal debate, ”
said the Burundian human rights lawyer, Armel Niyongere, who lives in exile.
In October 2015, the European Union adopted sanctions against several Burundians involved in acts of violence, repression or incitement to violence.
These are movement restrictions and asset freezes.
It also suspended all direct aid to the government in March 2016.
"We ask that justice also be able to rule on the perpetrators of the crimes committed in 2015 in
Burundi
.
We continue to plead for there to be prosecutions for the alleged perpetrators of these violations, ”
adds the lawyer
.
In
a report two months ago
, the UN estimated that the human rights situation remains "
disastrous
" in Burundi and has "
in some ways deteriorated
" since President Évariste Ndayishimiye took power a year ago. and a half, in June 2020.
The United States announced last week
the lifting of sanctions
against Burundi, welcoming an improvement since the election to the presidency of Évariste Ndayishimiye.
The lawyer therefore calls on the international community to keep up the pressure.
“The international community must not rush to turn the page while there is still impunity, while there are still serious human rights violations.
There have been many cases of
enforced disappearances
in recent days.
There are tortures committed by state agents, all of this with complete impunity, ”
said Mr. Niyongere.
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Burundi
Évariste Ndayishimiye