Burundi gov't calls "unfair" EU sanctions against 4 security officials

The Burundian government has called "unfair" European Union (EU) sanctions against four Burundian security officials for their alleged involvement in the protests against the third term bid of President Pierre Nkurunziza in April.

"Those sanctions are unfair. Those security officers rather did their best to reduce damages during the insurgency that took place by the end of April," said Burundian Government Spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba.

According to Nzobonariba, sanctions should have rather "targeted people who called for the insurgency and who are moving freely in Europe."

He indicated that those people are at the origin of the sanctions against the four Burundian security officials.

"Those insurgency leaders should rather be brought before trial. They drove schoolchildren into the streets in the insurgency and those children attacked police agents, killed them, killed other people and burned people alive, burned cars and destroyed public as well as private infrastructures," said Nzobonariba.

He indicated that the Burundian government is going to discuss with EU states to explain and convince them so that the "unfair" sanctions can be lifted.

"We hope that there will not be sanctions against other Burundian citizens. We are also going to use diplomatic channels to restore good relations between Burundi and the EU," said Nzobonariba.

On Thursday, the European Union (EU) decided sanctions against four Burundian security officials for their alleged involvement in repressing the protests against the third term bid of President Nkurunziza at the end of April.

By the beginning of August, local rights groups reported that more than 100 persons were killed during the protests against the third term bid of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Despite the protests, Nkurunziza was reelected for a third term in office on July 21 in a controversial presidential poll boycotted by the opposition.

The EU sanctions against the four Burundian security officials include a ban on entry visas on the European territory and freezing their assets.

Those four officials include Police Deputy-Director General Godefroid Bizimana, Gervais Ndirakobuca nicknamed Ndakugarika, the country's president's private secretary in charge of police affairs, Mathias-Joseph Niyonzima nicknamed Kazungu, agent at the National Intelligence Service (SNR) and General Leonard Ngendakumana, one of the May 21 failed coup plotters, who claimed responsibility in the grenade attacks in the capital Bujumbura in July. Endit