Europe readying sanctions against top Burundi officials

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini, stated on 23 July 2015 that sanctions were ready to implemented against those in Burundi preventing a solution to be found to the worst political crisis hitting the country since the end of the civil war in 2005.

Burundi held a presidential election in July 2015, in which incumbent president Pierre Nkurunziza decided to take part for a third mandate despite the two-term limit agreed in the Constitution. Such decision produced violence and an attempt of coup d'etat. Results of that election were still unknown.

The Council of the European Union adopted a position on Burundi in the meetings it held in May and June 2015.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU states halt some Burundi aid over crackdown on protests http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-states-halt-some-burundi-aid-over-crackdown-on-protests/

Council of the European Union: Statement, STATEMENT/15/617 (23.07.15): Statement by High Representative Federica Mogherini on behalf of the European Union following the presidential election in Burundi http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/07/23-eeas-mogherini-burundi/

EU: EEAS: EU Relations with Burundi http://eeas.europa.eu/burundi/index_en.htm

Deutsche Welle, 24.07.15: UN calls for national unity government in Burundi as election results expected http://dw.com/p/1G3y8

France24, 30.06.15: Gunfire and blasts as Burundi votes in boycott-hit poll http://www.france24.com/en/20150630-gunfire-blasts-burundi-votes-boycott-poll-nkurunziza

Deutsche Welle, 21.07.15: Violence continues as voting gets under way in Burundi http://dw.com/p/1G1tf

Euronews, 21.07.15: Burundi presidential vote underway amid violence and murders http://www.euronews.com/2015/07/21/burundi-presidential-vote-underway-amid-violence-and-murders/

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