Belgium will stop its aid programmes in Burundi in protest of President Pierre Nkurunziza’s contestable election for a third term.
The European country, from which Burundi gained independence I 1962, said it was immediately halting aid programmes benefitting the government, including its support for the justice system.
It said it would redirect these funds to other programmes to help he Burundians, for example via aid groups.
Belgium will however continue financing the health care initiatives.
The Belgian aid to Burundi was about $55.8 million in 2013, most of it going directly to the state.
Separately, the European Union imposed travel bans and asset freezes agreed earlier this week on four officials close to President Nkurunziza, who are accused of using excessive force during the clashes that rocked the country in the run-up to his re-election in July.
Under the EU sanctions list published on Friday, European governments agreed to impose asset freezes and ravel bans on the president’s chef of staff, Gavais Indirakobuca, accusing him of obstructing the search for a political solution and issuing instructions that led to acts of violence, repressions and violations of international human rights.
A national intelligence officer, a former general and the deputy head of the national police are also on the EU list.
