The EU has placed asset freezes and travel bans on three Burundians, who stand accused of ordering excessive force against peaceful protestors, who objected to President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to run for an unconstitutional third term and one military official who took part in a failed coup earlier this year.
The sanctions were imposed on Godefroid Bizimana, deputy head of the national police, accused of decisions that led to the "disproportionate use of force and acts of violent repression", Gervais Ndirakobuca, a cabinet official responsible for police matters, accused of giving orders that caused violations of international human rights law, Joseph Niyonzima, a senior intelligence official accused of arming and training a pro-government militia and Leonard Ngendakumana, a former general who stands accused of "obstructing the search for a political solution".
Foreign Minister Alain Nyamitwe told the BBC's Kirundi service that the force used was justified, because the protests were violent and had been preventing people from going about their daily business in the capital, Bujumbura.
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