Top government officials in Burundi are set to be slapped by heavy sanctions from the United States following the prolonged violence that has claimed the lives of at least 240 people since its breakout in April 2015.
The announcement comes after Burundi was asked by the UN Security Council to end the violence and senseless killings or risk sanctions and yielding no desirable results. The violence in Burundi and dissatisfaction has raised the fears of the a genocide occurring the the volatile Central African country.
The US will enforce asset freezes and visa restrictions to four Burundians; two officials in the current regime and the other two are former government official;
- Alain Guillaume Buyoni, current Public Security Minister
- Godefroid Bizimana, Deputy Director of National Police
- Godefroid Niymombare, former Intelligence Chief
- Cyrille Ndayirukiye, former Defence Minister
Washington said that the government officials were sanctioned after “multiple, credible, and ongoing reports of targeted killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and political repression by security forces, as well as violence and abuses by youth militia affiliated with the ruling party with a an equivalent reaction from the opposition.”
