Summary At least 19 people have died in Burundi since Nkurunziza announced his intention
BRUSSELS (AFP) - Belgium said Monday it has suspended aid for elections in Burundi following violent clashes between security forces and protesters against President Pierre Nkurunziza s bid for a third term.
Belgium, the biggest bilateral backer of Burundi s voting process, has also halted support for a police mission in the country, international development minister Alexander De Croo said in a statement.
"De Croo believes that in the current circumstances the payment of the remaining tranche of two million euros ($2.2 million) must be suspended," with two million euros of an overall budget of four million having already been paid out, the statement said.
It cited the fact that the EU s electoral mission in Burundi had said last week that "conditions for free elections have not been met at the moment".
Also Belgium s involvement in a police cooperation mission with Burundi, which also involves the Netherlands, "must be temporarily suspended", with the suspension of three million euros in aid out of a budget of five million.
At least 19 people have died in Burundi since Nkurunziza announced his intention to run for a third term in elections due next month, sparking weeks of angry demonstrations.
