United States of America (USA), Washington, D.C.
In the midst of an intensifying assault, the US denounces the anti-LGBT comment made by the Burundian president and urges respect for human rights.
Evariste Ndayishimiye, the president of Burundia, recently urged his people to stone queer people, and the United States has expressed concern over his comment.
In a country where Gay people face social exclusion and jail term of up to two years if found guilty of same-sex offenses, the notes officially stepped up the crackdown on sexual minority. According to a statement from the U.S. State Department on Friday, “The United States is deeply troubled by President Ndayishimiye’s notes targeting specific vulnerable and excluded Burundians.”
“We implore all Burundian leaders to uphold the fundamental respect and unalienable rights of each and every citizen of Burundi community, including equitable access to justice.” “These initiatives are a necessary prelude to the socioeconomic development required to improve conditions for all Burundians.”
The remarks about murdering were not specifically mentioned in the State Department speech, but Ndayishimiye’s comments at a public occasion late last month were clearly mentioned. Ndayishimiye responded to a question about queer people by saying, “Personally, I think we may put these kinds of people in Burundi and stone them.”
As Ndayishimiye’s father Pierre Nkurunziza contentiously ran for reelection, the United States, which had imposed restrictions in 2015 over a lethal assault on dissent, improved relations with Burundi in recent years. After lifting punishment, the United States in 2022 agreed to a five-year support package with Burundi in exchange for Ndayishimiye’s changes.
The US did not issue a threat of implications on Friday. A regulation that carried the death penalty for some types of same-sex offenses was passed by Uganda in May. Travel restrictions and Uganda’s exclusion from a tariff-free trade agreement are just two of the punishment the United States has put in place.
