In Burundi, NGOs worried after the resumption of European budget aid

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View of Bujumbura, capital of Burundi.

This measure, which had been anticipated for several weeks, was formalized on Tuesday February 8, 2022, but human rights organizations highlight the persistent abuses in the country. Those close to power emphasize the economic needs of the country.

The main international human rights organizations do not hide their dissatisfaction, following the decision of the European Union announced on Tuesday to immediately lift the budgetary sanctions that had been taken once morest the Burundian government since 2016. A dozen Burundian NGOs in exile who castigated in a joint statement a decision taken by turning a blind eye to the violations that continue to be committed in the country.

Me Dieudonné Bashirahishize, is one of its signatories: “ There are still kidnappings and enforced disappearances that are reported, corpses that are found. The political space is not open. Opponents are still persecuted. People are sentenced to life imprisonment simply for speaking out once morest the policy of a regime. There are media that have been destroyed, journalists still in exile, more than 300,000 Burundians forced to remain in exile because the causes of their flight are still there. We believe that the introduction of these sanctions is not in line with the values ​​of the European Union. We hope that the situation will continue to be assessed and that the European Union may also be able to exert pressure, so that the government stops these violations which continue, despite the change of discourse.. »

Another story of the Izere Human Rights League, reputed to be close to the ruling party in Burundi. She is pleased to see the EU putting an end to ” sanctions taken unjustly once morest Burundi “, recalling how much the country urgently needs this European aid.

Its president François-Xavier Ndaruzaniye, recalls that the current president Évariste Ndayishimiye wants to change things. ” We hope that the European Union will spare no effort to be able to effectively finance and support Burundi, especially in the economic sectors. Concerning the international organizations for the defense of human rights, which today feel uncomfortable, because the European Union has removed its sanctions, mainly, we must first see the politico-social context in Burundi . We have a president who has a clear desire to be able to put an end to impunity. The second thing that should not be forgotten is this desire to once once more open up Burundi on the international scene. We are satisfied that there are no enforced disappearances on the ground, which are caused by the authorities, as reported by these other people who are not on the ground, in other words, Human Rights Watch, etc. », explains François-Xavier Ndaruzaniye.