Resolution on the situation in Burundi

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the situation in Burundi.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, GUE/NGL, Greens/EFA and EFDD groups.

Members recalled that Burundi was plunged into a serious political crisis and civil unrest following the announcement in April 2015 by President Pierre Nkurunziza that he would run for a third term.

According to international observers, those opposing his re-election have faced a massive government crackdown since July 2015. According to human rights organisations more than 1 200 people have been killed, between 400 and 900 have been victims of enforced disappearances, hundreds or possibly thousands have been tortured, and more than 10 000 are still being arbitrarily detained.

With regard to this situation, on 8 December 2015, the EU began consultations with the Government of Burundi under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement, in the presence of representatives of the ACP Group of States, the AU, the East African Community (EAC) and the UN. In March 2016, the EU closed consultations, having concluded that the commitments proposed by the Burundian Government in terms of human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law are unsatisfactory.

Consequently, the EU suspended direct financial support to the Burundian administration, including budget support and has undertaken to maintain financial support for the population and humanitarian assistance.

In general, Members expressed support for the renewed targeted sanctions by the EU, and the EU Council decision to suspend funding for Burundi.

Ethnic crisis: Members are concerned that the present state of affairs very much risks creating deeper divisions between different ethnic groups and condemned the ‘ethnicisation’ of the crisis. They urged all sides in Burundi to refrain from any behaviour or language that might further aggravate violence, deepen the crisis or affect regional stability in the long term.

They noted that the situation in Burundi is having an extremely damaging impact throughout the region and called on the EU to back the efforts of regional actors to resolve the crisis.

According to Members, a greater presence of international observers in Burundi might help to improve the situation as regards human rights and security. This is why they are calling for a further 200 African Union military and human rights observers to be deployed in support of the 30 observers already present.

Lastly, Parliament expressed its deep concern at the influx of Burundian refugees into neighbouring countries and the alarming humanitarian situation of displaced persons in Burundi.