Federal Government Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Georg Schmidt

Germany has suspended financial support to Burundi amounting to millions of dollars and instead the money will be dedicated to refugees who are in Tanzania’s camps.

The move follows the ongoing crisis in Burundi, which erupted early last year when President Pierre Nkurunzinza announced to run for a third-term in office, which was criticized by large sections of the people.
Addressing journalists at the German Embassy in Dar es Salaam on Friday, the Federal Government Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Georg Schmidt, said: “Our decision is on humanitarian grounds that there are people who are in refugee camps in Tanzania and we want to support the endeavors made by Tanzania in hosting Burundian refugees.”
He however would not divulge the exact amount that is to be pumped into the refugee camps, mostly located in Kasulu district, Kigoma region. The envoy said he would reveal the amount tomorrow, noting: “The ongoing crisis will be resolved by Burundians themselves. Tanzania will remain with its special role to contribute to Burundi’s government to ensure that the ongoing conflict is resolved.”
According to the German official, Tanzania was the most affected country in the East African region with the refugee problem. “This has made the country to allocate chunks of land for refugee camps…and as we’re speaking today there are hundreds of refugees resulting from civil wars in neighbouring countries like Burundi,” he added.
In response to recent political developments in Burundi, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development  in Germany (BMZ)  suspended  all activities under its bilateral development cooperation with Burundi that involves cooperation with the government. Negotiations with the government of Burundi on new commitments, originally scheduled for late 2015, would now be cancelled until further notice.
Germany was thus responding to the latest developments in Burundi, which were caused by President Nkurunziza when he announced that he would run for a third term in office, the envoy said.
German Development Minister Müller said, “Burundi is on the verge of sliding into a spiral of violence because the government is disregarding democratic principles, not even stopping short of torturing political opponents,” he said.