Burundi: International Pressure and Counter-Sanctional Maneuvering of Ruling Elites
Author:
Leonid Fituni
Abstract:
Using the example of one of the poorest and economically most vulnerable states in the world – the Republic of Burundi – the article examines the impact of international sanctions on foreign and domestic policy as well as upon the economic situation in sovereign states of African. The author demonstrates that, despite the severe destructive consequences of the economic and political sanctions of external players, the use of restrictive regimes against “recalcitrant” actors of interstate relations does not automatically lead to a change in their line of behaviour or to the downfall of the ruling regimes. As the example of Burundi shows, even in the conditions of the poorest country in the world, well-thought-out political maneuvering and reasonable use of available resources can allow the targeted state and its elites to remain in power indefinitely and to maintain the political status quo.
Keywords:
international relations, sanctions, elites, international security, maneuvering, development, destabilization
DOI:
10.31132/2412-5717-2021-57-4-72-86
References:
1. Abramova I., Fituni L. The price of “blue gold”. Asia and Africa today. 2008. № 12 (617), р. 7–12.
2. Abramova I.O., Polikanov D.V., Fituni L.L. Internet, transformation of societies and network wars. Russian strategic studies. Moscow, 2002, р. 136–150.
3. Agbortogo E. Burundi: EU to lift Financial Sanctions. The Cameroon-Tribune. 21 Juin.2021. https://cameroon-tribune.cm/article.html/40739/en.html/burundi-eu-lift-financial (accessed 10.11.2021)
4. Burundi Sanctions. https://www.state.gov/burundi-sanctions/ (accessed 10.11.2021)
5. Burundi under Siege (1998). International Crisis Group. 28.04.1998. https://www.refworld. org/docid/3ae6a6d30.html (дата обращения 28.09.2021).
6. Burundi. https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/burundi (accessed 12.11.2021)
7. Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1826 of 18 October 2021 amending Decision (CFSP) 2015/1763 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Burundi. Official Journal of the European Union. 19.10.2021. L 369/15, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.L_. 2021.369.01.0015.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2021%3A369%3ATOC (accessed 10.11.2021)
8. Financial Sanctions, Burundi. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-sanctions-burundi (accessed 12.11.2021)
9. Fituni L.L. Africa in the modern world commodity trading system. Problems of the modern economy. 2013. № 3 (47), р. 148–154.
10. Fituni L.L., Ridley N., Abramova I.O., Magnusson D. Financial monitoring of capital flows to prevent terrorist financing. Moscow, 2005.
11. GNI per capita. Burundi. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD?locations=BI (accessed 10.11.2021)
12. Iranzi F. (2021) EU sanctions on Burundi hurting not only Burundians but the people of the entire region. Region Week. June 11, 2021, https://regionweek.com/eu-sanctions-on-burundi-hurting-not-only-burundians-but-the-people-of-the-entire-region/
13. La Liberation. Paris. 28.02.1968.
14. Martin C. (2021) Post-Cotonou EU-Burundi relations: the need to maintain international pressure to tackle ongoing human rights violations. Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations. Brussels. https://www.egmontinstitute.be/post-cotonou-eu-burundi-relations-the-need-to-maintain-international-pressure-to-tackle-ongoing-human-rights-violations/ (accessed 12.11.2021)
15. Rettman A. (2021) EU preparing to lift Burundi sanctions, despite warning. EU Observer, 23.06.2021. https://euobserver.com/world/152231 (accessed 10.11.2021)
16. Sadovskaya L.M. (2013) Interethnic Conflicts in Rwanda and Burundi: Outcomes of Pacification. In the book: Conflicts in Africa: causes, genesis and problems of settlement (ethnopolitical and social aspects). Moscow, InAfr, р. 395–424.
17. Shlenskaya S.M. (2017) Republic of Burundi. Reference and monographic edition. Moscow, InAfr.
18. Shlenskaya S.M. (2017) Вurundi: vectors of political development after the 2015 presidential elections. Journal of the Institute for African Studies. №1 (38), р. 84–98.
19. Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at UNSC VTC open debate on cooperation between the UN and regional and subregional organizations (AU). 28.10.2021. https://russiaun.ru/en/news/sc_281021 (accessed 07.11.2021)
20. Third countries align with Burundi sanctions. https://www.europeansanctions.com/region/burundi/ (accessed 10.11.2021)
21. Urnov A.Yu. (2019) USA and African elections. 2015-2018 years. Journal of the Institute for African Studies 2019. No. 1 (46). S. 58-98US Treasury. Burundi Sanctions. https://home.treasury.gov/ policy-issues/financial-sanctions/sanctions-programs-and-country-information/burundi-sanctions (ac-cessed 12.10.2021)
22. Wolpe H. (2011) Making Peace after Genocide: Anatomy of the Burundi Process. Washington DC: United States Institute of Peace.
23. World Bank (2021). Burundi Trade Summary 2019 Data. World Integrated Trade Solutions, https://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/en/Country/BDI/Year/LTST/Summary (accessed 10.11.2021)