The East African Legislative Assembly has called on the European Union to lift sanctions against Burundi that was imposed since 2015, during a sitting in its Head Quarters in Arusha (Tanzania) the law makers hailed the United States move and called on the European Union to follow.
“When there is sanction on a Partner State it is not only for that particular partner state the regional bloc should confront sanctions imposed on member states as a bloc and we need to engage EU,” said George Odongo an EALA member from Uganda.
Burundi’s minister for East African Community Affairs Ezechiel Nibigira said that it was high time that the community came together to better foster the regional integration that will hence provide path towards development.
“Burundi has made bigger strides towards improving its relations with its neighbors and recently we welcomed US move to lift sanctions against Burundi,” said Burundi’s EAC minister.
This comes after the United States government on November 18th 2021 the United States lifted sanctions against Burundi that was imposed since 2015, the sanctions came after reports of gross Human Rights violations were reported in the country with the then some government institutions and officials accused of playing a role.
“It is not a luxury for member states to improve their relations it is an important part of integration,” said George Odongo while calling for EAC to back member states who were put under sanctions.
The US issued an Executive Order to terminate the declaration of Burundi as a national emergency in November 22, 2015, as the US lifted sanctions on Burundi dialogue is ongoing between President Evariste Ndayihsimiye’s government and the European Union to lift sanctions.
The EU suspended direct aid to the Burundian government in 2015 and the resumption of the political dialogue came few months after Burundi’s incumbent president took over the office last year.