Burundi: No classic bilateral cooperation programme in case of third term
On the proposal of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation, Alexander De Croo, the federal Council of Ministers today approved a new list of Belgian development cooperation partner countries. The Council of Ministers decided to keep Burundi as a partner country. Belgium thus wants to express its solidarity with the population of Burundi. However, in case of persistent violation of the Arusha Accords, Belgium shall not enter into a traditional bilateral cooperation programme with the Burundian government.
In 2013, the total Belgian ODA expenses in Burundi amounted to EUR 47.4 million, EUR 34.4 million of which was for governmental cooperation. Belgium is the biggest bilateral donor and third biggest donor overall, after the World Bank and the European Union.
Just as in other partner countries, Belgium wants to work with the Burundian government to improve the human rights situation and stimulate inclusive and sustainable economic growth. However, Belgian development assistance applies a progress perspective. Countries that want to make progress in these two areas can count on support. But if things go the other way, Belgium will review its assistance.
Belgium remains particularly concerned about the situation in Burundi, following the announcement of president Nkurunziza that he wants to stand for a third term. The Arusha Accords are an important source of stability and constitute the basis for the development of Burundi. The decision to seek a third term is a violation of the Arusha Accords and has created a rift in Burundian society.
More than 100,000 Burundians have already fled the country. Human rights violations have also been reported, such as a restriction of the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press and violence committed by police and army.
Belgium supports the Burundian population in these difficult times and voices its hope that president Nkurunziza will not seek a third term. A third term would seriously undermine the legitimacy of the Burundian government and would make it impossible for the Belgian government to organise a Mixed Commission Development Cooperation with Burundi next year as planned, or to reach a traditional bilateral cooperation programme. In this case, Belgium will choose other forms of cooperation with a double objective in mind: to improve the fate of the population and strengthen democratic forces.
