Burundi Ambassador to Kenya Jean Barege has welcomed the lifting of the 2015 sanctions against the East African country by the Permanent Council of La Francophonie during its 112th session.
The decision was confirmed through a Communiqué released by the Burundi Embassy in France.
This means the International Organisation of la Francophonie will resume cooperation with Burundi since 2015, when the sanctions were effected citing a political crisis.
“This is a very good move. We appeal upon other partners to take the same trend,” Ambassador Barege said.
The country’s Foreign Minister Ambassador Albert Shingiro termed the sanctions as “unjust, illegal and immoral coercive measures imposed on Burundi in violation of the goals, principles, and values conveyed in the charter of United Nations”.
On April 8, 2016, the International Organization of la Francophonie partially suspended its multilateral cooperation with Burundi, due to "the lack of progress" in the political dialogue.
The members of the Permanent Council deplored the deterioration of the security situation and the absence of an inclusive political dialogue on the backdrop of the contentious third term of President Pierre Nkurunziza.
The Francophone Group expressed willingness to lift the sanctions in July after the change in guard in Burundi.
“In light of recent political developments in Burundi, the Council of la Francophonie has noted and welcomed the request from the Burundian authorities to lift the measure to suspend multilateral cooperation,” the organisation of 88 French-speaking nations said in a statement on its website.
Since taking over in June, President Evariste Ndayishimiye has moved to renew relations with nations and organisations that were struggling or broken during Nkurunziza rule.
In September, made a one-day visit to neighbouring Tanzania, where he held talks with President John Magufuli in what was Ndayishimiye ‘s first visit abroad as head of state.
On November 3, he was in Equatorial Guinea for a state visit. Six cooperation agreements were signed among them visa exemption, reciprocal protection of investments, trade, transport, diplomatic consultations and agriculture and livestock.
