BUJUMBURA, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Monday decided to renew sanctions against Burundi until Oct. 31, 2018, the EU embassy in Burundi said in a press release.
According to the press release, lack of progress on the situation in Burundi explains the "renewal of sanctions" against Burundi for another year.
"There are still extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and forced disappearance," said the press release.
In October 2015, the EU imposed sanctions against four Burundian police officers for their alleged participation in the repression of protests against the east African country's President Pierre Nkurunziza's third term bid in April 2015.
The EU sanctions against the four Burundian security officials include a ban on entry visas on the European territory and freezing their assets.
Later in March 2016, the EU decided to cancel direct aid to the east African nation, arguing that the Burundian government had failed to properly address human rights abuses, a democratization process and a rule of law.
Burundi plunged into a crisis in April 2015 when Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run his controversial third term bid, which he won in July 2015. His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted in a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup on May 13, 2015.
