- Title: UGANDA: NEIGHBOURING AFRICAN STATES VOTE TO KEEP ECONOMIC EMBARGO AGAINST BURUNDI
- Date: 23rd February 1998
- Summary: KAMPALA, UGANDA (FEBRUARY 21, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT FREDERICK CHILUBA ARRIVING FOR SUMMIT 0.23 2. SV ETHIOPIAN PRESIDENT ARRIVING 0.35 3. SV KENYAN PRESIDENT DANIEL ARAP MOI ARRIVING 0.46 4. SV ROUND TABLE TALKS (2 SHOTS) 0.54 5. MCU UGANDAN PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI SAYING I WOULD LIKE THE WORLD TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE ONLY PEACEFUL PRESSURE AVAILABLE (SANCTIONS), IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS PRESSURE THEN THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS ARMED STRUGGLE (ENGLISH) 1.24 6. MCU/SV ROUND TABLE TALKS (2 SHOTS) 1.38 7. UGANDAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYING THE SUMMIT URGES THE REGIME IN BURUNDI TO RESPOND TO THE PEACE PROCESS. ON THE ISSUE OF SANCTIONS THE LEADERS AGREE TO REVIEW THEM AS SOON AS CONDITIONS STIPULATED HAVE BEEN ADHERED TO AND ALL PARTY TALKS ON THE PEACE PROCESS HAVE COMMENCED (ENGLISH) 8. MORE ROUND TABLE OF DELEGATES Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 10th March 1998 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KAMPALA, UGANDA
- City:
- Country: AFRICA Uganda
- Reuters ID: LVAAWXOSH3NU6SX0D97NM661CHT0
- Story Text: Burundi's hopes that its neighbours would ease a crippling economic embargo were dashed on Saturday (February 21) when a summit of regional leaders voted to keep sanctions in place until the country returned to civil rule.
A number of African states imposed an economic embargo on Burundi in July 1996 after Pierre Buyoya was installed as president following a military coup.
Some states have been arguing for the embargo to be lifted to encourage the Tutsi-led government to hold further dialogue with Hutu rebels, but others have continually pressed for sanctions to be tightened.
After the summit ended on Saturday, the African nations announced that they had agreed to maintain the economic sanctions.
Ugandan Presdient Yoweri Museveni said sanctions were the most powerful weapon open to Africans to put pressure on Burundi unless they resorted to military action.
Speaking at a news conference at the end of the summit the Ugandan Foreign Minister said the sanctions would remain until Burundi co-operates in allowing peace talks to commence.
Hutu rebels stepped up their campaign against Burundi's Tutsi-dominated army and government this year following a New Year's Day offensive on Bujumbura airport and its environs which left at least 284 dead.
The fighting has continued in hills around the capital almost every day since, with rebels targeting both ethnic groups.
Fighting in Burundi has claimed at least 150,000 lives, mostly civilians, since Tutsi troops murdered the country's first elected Hutu president in an attempted coup in 1993.
The sanctions have had a mixed effect on Burundi's economy.
Officially trade and other economic links between Burundi and its neighbours have been cut, but small traders are known to frequently break the embargo by transporting goods across its lengthy borders.
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