Sanctions have passed “sell-by date”

A new report on Burundi sanctions, commissioned by ActionAid, says the policy has passed its “sell-by date”. The embargo should have been lifted after the new political partnership between the government and the opposition FRODEBU party, which the report described as a turning point in the history of sanctions. Humanitarian exemptions to the embargo have not sufficed to reverse a decline in social indicators, and vulnerable people have been more and more affected by the sanctions which have made it difficult for donors and creditors to provide fresh credit, development assistance and balance of payments support to Burundi.

The report notes that many of the regional players originally involved in imposing sanctions now want them lifted, with the exception of Uganda, Tanzania and the peace process mediator Julius Nyerere. It argues that the latter, “by acting so inflexibly” has given President Pierre Buyoya an “astonishing propaganda victory” by allowing observers to conclude it is Nyerere and not the Burundian government who is obstructing a peace settlement.

The report says the current outlook appears to indicate sanctions will soon be lifted, but recommends the embargo should end for the “right reasons” and not due to international pressure on Nyerere. By linking the end of sanctions to issues such as the new partnership and ongoing political dialogue, something positive will have been achieved from the move.

[For further information contact Sarah Collinson, Policy Division, ActionAid. Tel: 44-171-561-7559, email: [email protected]]