Belgium suspends aid
Belgium suspends aid to Burundi, the first country to pull funds due to violent clashes in the African country, after concluding that current conditions do not allow election candidates to campaign. Belgium had pledged four million euros to assist with the organisation of the forthcoming elections — of which a 50 percent tranche has already been paid. The country will also pull out of a five million euro police cooperation deal, which it has in place jointly with the Netherlands. Belgian minister:
In the current circumstances the payment of the remaining two million can only be put on hold.