President Obama on Monday imposed sanctions against four government officials of Burundi for threatening U.S. national security and human rights violations, marking the 12th time Obama has declared such a national emergency with respect to another country. He has rescinded three similar executive orders issued by predecessors, most recently with respect to Liberia.
The EU and African Union have already imposed sanctions against top members of President Pierre Nkurunziza’s government.
His presidency “has precipitated a humanitarian, economic and security crisis, forcing more than 200,000 Burundians to become refugees in neighboring countries,” said Ned Price, National Security Council spokesman. “We have received 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.”
Price said counterattacks by anti-government forces have contributed to the country’s instability.
“I have determined that the situation in Burundi, which has been marked by the killing of and violence against civilians, unrest, the incitement of imminent violence and significant political repression, and which threatens the peace, security and stability of Burundi, constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, and warrants the declaration of a national emergency and the imposition of sanctions,” Obama wrote in his notification letter to Congress.
The Treasury and State Department secretaries are to impose sanctions against anyone they determine has been involved in undermining Burundi’s security or democracy, human rights abuses or violence against civilians or civilian refugees, such as hospitals and schools. Those sanctions will also target anyone who leads a sanctioned entity.
The order explicitly freezes the U.S.-based assets of the following government officials and places visa restrictions on them:
Minister of Public Security Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, National Police Deputy Director-General Godefroid Bizimana, Maj. Gen. Godefroid Niyombare, former chief of the Burundi Intelligence Service and former Defense Minister Cyrille Ndayirukiye.
The quartet is accused of overseeing and ordering torture, participating in a failed coup attempt and violently repressing government protestors, among other acts.
“The order is not targeted at the people of Burundi, but rather is aimed at activities by the government and armed groups that contribute to the turmoil there,” Obama wrote.
