EU renews sanctions against Burundi for another year

23 Octobre 2017

Brussels, Belgium, October 23 (Infosplusgabon) -  The Council of the European Union on Monday renewed restrictive measures against Burundi for another year until 31 October 2018, stating that the absence of progress in the situation in Burundi justified the renewal of the sanctions for another year.

In a press statement made available to  Infosplusgabon,  the Council said these measures consist of a travel ban and asset freeze against four persons whose activities were deemed to be undermining democratic governance  and obstructing the search for a peaceful political solution in Burundi.

“These activities include acts of violence, repression or incitement to violence and acts which constitute serious human rights violations,” it pointed out.

Names of the persons concerned and the reasons for listing them were included in the annex to the Council’s decision of 1 October 2015 published in the Official Journal.

They were mentioned as: Godefroid Bizimana, Deputy Director General of the National Police; Gervais Ndirakobuca alias Ndakugarika, Head of Cabinet of the Presidential Administration (Présidence) responsible for matters relating to the National Police; Mathias/Joseph Niyonzima alias Kazungu,  Officer of the National Intelligence Service; and Léonard Ngendakumana, former ‘Chargé de Missions de la Présidence’ and former army general.

The statement went on: “The EU remains profoundly concerned by information on continuing extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests and detentions, forced disappearances, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and gender-based violence, including sexual violence committed in Burundi since April 2015.

“The EU has repeatedly and continuously called on all parties to refrain from and to firmly condemn any acts of violence and to end the cycle  of impunity of perpetrators. The respect for the rule of law, built on effective, accountable and inclusive institutions is essential to achieving a lasting political solution to the crisis.”

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/OGH/GABON 2017

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