Regional leaders suspend sanctions

East and Central African leaders on Saturday suspended economic sanctions on Burundi imposed two-and-a-half years ago. A joint communique at the end of a regional summit in Arusha, Tanzania said the decision was taken after reviewing the progress so far achieved in the Burundi peace process. However, it said the suspension, which was taken “in the spirit of giving further impetus to the Burundi peace negotiations”, would be subject to review.

The move on sanctions was welcomed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He said he hoped it would bring peace closer to Burundi. The summit decision was also applauded by Burundi President Pierre Buyoya. He assured that the government “will do everything possible in order to arrive at a peace accord before the end of the current year,” PANA reported.

Meanwhile, Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa has called on business people to resume trade with Burundi as soon as possible, a Dar es Salaam-based newspaper reported today (Monday). Mkapa said that Tanzania’s border with Burundi had been opened with immediate effect, and the business community should resume trade with land-locked Burundi “without delay”, ‘The Guardian’ said.