WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — In late April, political crisis occurred in Burundi in the wake of President Pierre Nkurunziza’s announcement to seek a third term in the July 21 elections.
The opposition boycotted the vote in which Nkurunziza gained 69 percent, prompting violent nationwide protests.
“I am taking this step because I have determined that the government of Burundi has not established, or is not making continual progress toward establishing the rule of law and political pluralism as required by the AGOA eligibility requirements,” Obama stated.
Obama explained the government’s crackdown on members of the opposition, including the use of arrests, torture and assassinations, have worsened in the aftermath of Nkurunziza’s reelection.
“I intend to terminate the designation of Burundi as a beneficiary sub-country under AGOA as of January 1, 2016,” Obama added.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act was signed into law in 2000 with an intention of supporting the economies of sub-Saharan Africa and granting them trade preferences and duty-free entry into the United States for some goods.
