In Burundi, the head of diplomacy Albert Shingiro and the ambassador of the European Union, Claude Bochu, surrounded by his fellow Member States on Wednesday morning at a large hotel in Bujumbura, resume political dialogue with a view to lifting sanctions against Gitega. This dialogue, which has since stopped, resumed in February after Access by Nkurunziza’s successor to power.
The stated goal of this new round of negotiations is to try to end as soon as possible a political dialogue that resumed almost six months ago, but which has already taken a first step with the decision of the expert groups in Brussels. will ultimately lead to the lifting of budget sanctions against the Burundian government.
It is an “important step” taken thanks to “the positive development initiated by President Évariste Ndayishimiye in terms of good governance, the rule of law and human rights,” he said. Rejoiced at Claude Bochu on Monday, just after announcing “good news” to him. But he warns: “It is a necessary step that has just been taken but is not enough” before recalling that further progress is hoped for in the coming months.
The authorities expected at the beginning of the EU
Gitega is therefore expected in topics such as the opening of the political space, media freedom, a renaissance of civil society or the thorny issue of the introduction of ethnic quotas on international NGOs.
In fact, international and local non-governmental human rights condemned a hasty announcement, accusing the Burundian authorities of making rather “symbolic” gestures while continuing to commit serious human rights violations. The European Union is aware of this, according to one of its diplomats. But it is the price to pay, according to him, to once again have a lever against a power that has hitherto been uncompromising.
The ball is therefore in the court of the Burundian authorities, who must make new promises to their main European donor.
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