Belgium suspends aid to Burundi amidst escalating violence

Belgium has suspended its aid to Burundi as violence in the country escalates, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander de Croo told De Standaard on Monday.

The south-eastern African country has seen two weeks of violent street demonstrations against President Pierre Nkurunziza, who has announced he is seeking a third term in next month's elections.

At least 14 people have died and hundreds have been wounded in protests since April 25.

De Croo told the Flemish newspaper he was "very worried" about the increased violence in the country.

The Belgian government offered 4 million euros (about 4.48 million U.S. dollars) to aid with Burundi's electoral process in the run-up to the June 26 elections.

In a statement released on Sunday, the deputy prime minister said 2 million euros of the promised money had already been dispersed, but he was suspending payment of the remaining sum on the grounds that "the European electoral observation mission to Burundi (EU EOM) stated late last week that the conditions for free elections are not currently met."

Belgium is also set to pull out of a 5-million-euro police cooperation mission, which is jointly held with the Netherlands, in Burundi. So far, 3 million euros has been paid.

According to the statement, "the decision comes after the UN human rights commissioner (OHCHR) has documented 11 cases in which the police shot dead protesters while there was no question of self-defense. The OHCHR speaks of 11 violations of the right to life." (1 euro = 1.12 U.S. dollars) Endit