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Burundi gov't says AU sanctions would compromise peace

Xinhua, October 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Sanctions against some Burundian leaders by the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council would compromise peace in the east African nation, the Burundian government said Wednesday.

"Sanctions envisaged by the AU against some Burundian people would radicalize positions and would compromise peace that the AU Peace and Security Council is aimed to promote," said Burundian Government Spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba.

On Oct. 17, the AU Peace and Security Council issued a resolution whereby it analyzed the mounting violence prevailing in Burundi and envisaged sanctions against some Burundian leaders whose actions "obstruct" the search for a solution on the country's violence.

It said that a list of people to be sanctioned would be available within 45 days.

According the AU, those sanctions include an asset freeze and a restriction of trips within the African continent.

"The government (of Burundi) requests the AU Peace and Security to be more coherent because more tragic situations with heavy death tolls exist in many places in Africa. However, the AU has not yet taken extreme sanctions," said Nzobonariba.

He indicated that there is a need for "wisdom to get an impartial and concerted report."

The AU had also called for the beginning of a sincere and inclusive dialogue in the spirit of the Arusha Agreement, adding that the venue of dialogue should either be the Ugandan capital Kampala or the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and should be held under the facilitation of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

With regards to the dialogue, Nzobonariba indicated that the government has set up the National Commission for Inter-Burundians' Dialogue (CNDI) whose members were chosen from various sectors.

"This dialogue framework is open to all Burundian citizens including those of the Diaspora," said Nzobonariba.

Earlier this month, the European Union took sanctions against four Burundian police officers for their alleged participation in the repression of protests against the east African country's President Pierre Nkurunziza's third term bid.

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

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.

Local rights groups also reported that dozens others were killed in post-electoral violence in the east African country.

Opponents accuse Nkurunziza of violating the country's constitution that limits presidents to a maximum of two terms in office. Endit