The European Union warned Burundi on Monday it might impose sanctions
on those responsible for violence and consider other steps against the
aid-reliant nation, plunged into turmoil by the president’s plan to run
for a third term.
A grenade attack killed four people on Sunday. President Pierre Nkurunziza’s opponents said his bid for another five years in office is unconstitutional, while he cites a court ruling that found he could run.
Reuters says it is the worst political crisis since Burundi emerged from ethnically fuelled civil war in 2005.
The unrest has worried a region with a history of ethnic conflict, particularly next door Rwanda, where there was genocide in 1994.
“The EU is determined to adopt, if necessary, targeted restrictive measures against those whose actions might have led or might lead to acts of violence and repression and serious human rights violations,” EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg said in a statement.
The body funds about half the annual budget of Burundi, one of the world’s poorest nations, and diplomats have said in the past donors would seek targeted sanctions rather than broad steps that could harm the population.
But EU ministers warned that the situation could push them to consider reviewing broader relations between Burundi and the EU, comments suggesting some aid could be suspended.
The EU, Belgium and the Netherlands have already cut some aid flows, mainly related to supporting the elections.
read more @ :thenationonlineng.net
A grenade attack killed four people on Sunday. President Pierre Nkurunziza’s opponents said his bid for another five years in office is unconstitutional, while he cites a court ruling that found he could run.
Reuters says it is the worst political crisis since Burundi emerged from ethnically fuelled civil war in 2005.
The unrest has worried a region with a history of ethnic conflict, particularly next door Rwanda, where there was genocide in 1994.
“The EU is determined to adopt, if necessary, targeted restrictive measures against those whose actions might have led or might lead to acts of violence and repression and serious human rights violations,” EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg said in a statement.
The body funds about half the annual budget of Burundi, one of the world’s poorest nations, and diplomats have said in the past donors would seek targeted sanctions rather than broad steps that could harm the population.
But EU ministers warned that the situation could push them to consider reviewing broader relations between Burundi and the EU, comments suggesting some aid could be suspended.
The EU, Belgium and the Netherlands have already cut some aid flows, mainly related to supporting the elections.
read more @ :thenationonlineng.net
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