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EU donates 9.2 mln USD to support Burundi's elections

Xinhua, January 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

The European Union (EU) on Monday donated 8 million euros (9.2 million U.S. dollars) to support Burundi's forthcoming electoral process, the Burundian government said after signing the donation agreement.

"This donation from the European Union will help the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) organize credible, democratic, peaceful and inclusive elections," said Burundian Finance and Economic Development Planning Minister Tabu Abdallah Manirakiza.

EU Delegate to Burundi, Patrick Spirlet, said that EU's support to the coming elections now reaches 15 million euros (about 17.4 million U.S. dollars).

The support will help Burundi boost its electoral climate and its process in the consolidation of democracy, said Spirlet.

"There are, however, some challenges including lack of permanent dialogue between electoral stakeholders. This financial support should be accompanied by a political dialogue in order to have free, fair, peaceful and inclusive elections," said Spirlet.

The EU's financial support will be channeled through the basket fund for Burundi's 2015 elections managed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Burundi's general election will be held between May and September. Endi