The European Union (EU) on Tuesday announced it has lifted sanctions on three Burundians, including Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca, reported The Reuters.
The European body had imposed the sanctions seven years ago amid the deteriorating political situation in Burundi.
In 2015, the EU Council imposed the sanctions including travel restrictions and asset freezes amid widespread violence triggered by former President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to extend his presidential tenure.
In a communique released on Tuesday, the EU said the decision to lift the sanctions against Ndirakobuca and two others Godefroid Bizimana and Leonard Ngendakumana was taken after intensified dialogue with the Burundi government.
The three are alleged to have had a leading role in the crackdown on protests that followed the president’s announcement of his candidacy for a third term in late April 2015.
The communique added that the EU will continue to support the development efforts and reforms undertaken by Burundi.
Ndirakobuca was appointed prime minister last month after Burundi’s president sacked Prime Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni and his cabinet chief General Gabriel Nizigama following allegations of a possible coup plot against him. He was former president Nkurunziza’s chief adviser for police affairs during the violence in 2015.
The United States also lifted sanctions on the country’s military and security officials after the 2020 elections.
In February 2021, the Burundian government and the European Union resumed political dialogue aimed to normalize their relations following the election of President Evariste Ndayishimiye.
The 54-year-old Ndayishimiye assumed office in June 2020 after his predecessor Nkurunziza died of what the Burundian authorities said was heart failure.
In a tweet, Burundi’s foreign minister, Albert Shingiro, welcomed the lifting of targeted sanctions against the personalities.
“This measure is the culmination of frank, sincere political dialogue, based on mutual trust and the shared desire to warm the bonds of friendship and cooperation with the EU,” he said.
