AU Peace and Security Council removes Burundi from its agenda and calls for immediate lifting of sanctions.
RegionWeek Newsletter Vol IV, Issue #172 | Friday, May 7, 2021
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Dear Readers
In a Communiqué made public this Friday, May 7, 2020, the 993rd meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on the African Union Human Rights Observers and Military Experts Mission in Burundi said Burundi is removed from its agenda. The Council called the international community to immediately lift all sanctions and other forms of punitive measures imposed against Burundi without further delay.
The council welcomes the improved relations between Burundi and its neighbours, as well as with the European Union and other bilateral and multilateral partners and encourages the Burundian stakeholders to preserve the gains achieved since the peaceful transition, and calls on all parties to embrace the spirit of political tolerance to foster national cohesion and reconciliation.
The African Union Peace and Security Council noted with gratitude the financial, technical and material support to the Government of Burundi from some members of the international community; underscores the importance of sustained international support and therefore, encourages other members of the international community, who have not yet done so, to immediately lift all sanctions and other forms of punitive measures imposed against Burundi without further delay, with a view to creating conducive conditions for sustainable socio-economic recovery and stabilization.
It was suggested that AU Commission, through the Centre for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development, in Cairo, provide the required support in line with the post-conflict reconstruction and development, as well as peacebuilding and socio-economic needs and priorities of the Government of Burundi.
According to the communiqué, a technical impact assessment team will be soon sent to Burundi with a mandate to undertake an evaluation of the AU Human Rights Observers and Military Experts Mission in Burundi, with a view to drawing lessons and best practices for consideration in future deployment of similar missions elsewhere in the Continent, and to create a manual on the management of AU missions.
Why It matters
The African Union Peace and Security Council’s decision marks a new chapter in Burundi diplomacy, after the 551st meeting held on 17 October 2015, in which the Council agreed on the launching of an in-depth investigation on the violations of human rights and other abuses against civilian populations in Burundi, for the purposes of enabling Council to take additional measures.
In 2015 the African Union Commission, in pursuance of the relevant provisions of communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.2(DXV), deployed human rights observers and a team of military experts to monitor the human rights situation on the ground and report violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and to verify, in collaboration with the Government of Burundi and other concerned actors, the process of disarming the militias and other armed groups, respectively.
The African Union Peace and Security Council, in the communiqué of this Friday, commended the Human Rights Observers and the Military Experts deployed by the AU for providing capacity training support to the Burundian judiciary, law enforcement agencies, women and youth groups, as well as the provision of legal assistance to some detainees.
In light of the significant progress achieved and positive developments being witnessed in Burundi, decided to end the mandate of the AU Human Rights Observers and Military Experts Mission in Burundi on 31 May 2021 and took the opportunity to express appreciation to the Government and people of Burundi for hosting the AU Human Rights Observers and Military Experts Mission and for facilitating its work.
What is next for Burundi
Once sanctions are lifted there is a great deal of damage that needs to be repaired. The improved relations between Burundi and its neighbours, as well as with the European Union and other bilateral and multilateral partners open a new door to focus on development initiatives and economic recovery.
According to African Development Bank, Burundi fell into a recession in 2020, largely the result of the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic. Real GDP contracted by 3.3%, after growing 4.1% in 2019. A decline in agricultural production combined with rising prices of imported products resulted in a sharp rise in prices. Inflation rose by 8.5 points to 7.6% in 2020, compared with –0.7% in 2019.
If the pandemic is under control by the second half of 2021, economic recovery could occur with projected growth rates of 3.5% in 2021 and 2.1% in 2022. Inflation would come down to 5.4% in 2021 and 3.2% by 2022 from 7.6% in 2020.
Following the lifting of sanctions, Burundi and partners need to create a conducive environment for investors and businesses that are often skeptical of the reputational risk and the lack of clarity of the sanctions lifted and these fears need to be eased in order to boost business and investment.
Thanks for reading!
Fabrice Iranzi, Editor in Chief | RegionWeek.com
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