By Spy Uganda Correspondent
Burundi president Évariste Ndayishimiye announced the European Union had lifted its sanctions on Monday after meeting with the EU ambassador to the country.
The sanctions which included the blacklisting of several members of the regime were imposed in 2016, as citizens protested former president Pierre Nkurunziza’s candidacy to a third mandate which stirred, in turn, a wave of protests against the EU.
This move which comes one year after President Evariste Ndayishimiye’s coming to power will mean the Central African country will no longer be subject to article 96, which suspended financial cooperation between the European Union and Burundi.
The move also follows positive progress initiated by Ndayishimiye in terms of promoting governance, rule of law and human rights, he said, adding that the EU is expecting more positive results.
Bochu said that the EU together with other partners like the African Development Bank are going to finance the rehabilitation of the Port of Bujumbura and its surroundings before the end of this year, contribute funds to the farming sector.
At the end of May this year, the EU working groups unanimously gave the direction to EU judicial institutions to revoke the suspension of the financial aid to the Burundian government, Bochu told a press briefing after meeting Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye.
Despite some rejoicing at the lifting of sanctions, human rights group have warned of the situation in the country, and said dozens of new cases of torture had been documented, since the 2020 elections.
