Lift Sanctions on Burundi Before we Agree to Sign EPA- M7, Magufuli

[Iconoclastes]

Dar es Salaam

The East African Community Heads of State Sunday told the European Union to remove economic and trade sanctions on Burundi if it expects the member states to sign the Economic Partnerships Agxreement (EPA).

Speaking in the city at the conclusion of the summit both the outgoing EAC chairman Tanzanian President John Magufuli and the incoming chair Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said Burundi is a key member of the regional bloc and no trade deal can be signed without its involvement.
“In our meeting we have deliberated on the EPA issue and we have decided that we cannot sign it without the involvement of Burundi which is under EU sanctions.

"Of course there are still some issues in the agreement that we are continuing to sort out but removing sanctions could serve as a catalyst for us to sign,” President Magufuli said at a briefing held after the summit.

In October 2015, the EU imposed sanctions against four Burundians. The sanctions included travel restrictions and asset freeze of the four persons “whose activities are undermining democracy or obstructing efforts to achieve a political solution to the current crisis in Burundi,” according to a statement issued by the EU at the time of imposing the sanctions.

The sanctions were to last for one year but were renewed in September 2016 and would last till October 31, 2017.


http://www.africanews.com/2017/05/2...ache-and-leave-burundi-alone-magufuli//[/img]

 

[Iconoclastes]

Now they want to play hard- to - get, the Burundi sanction is a very lame pretext for their refusal to sign the deal. We know they will eventually yeild to pressure.

The EU wouldnt lift the Burundi sanctions, just to get these countries to sign EPA, I dont see that happening.

 

[bagamoyo]

I can't believe that the two presidents tied the EPA proposed agreement to a political turmoil in Burundi to be the main obstacle on reaching agreement with the EU. Because there are other issues specific to each partner states in the EAC which will determine whether they will sign the EPA agreement or not.

 

[Retired]

dictators gather in dar!

 

[darcity]

I don't trust JPM decisions toward this EPA agreement, especially when he is surrounded with Kagame and Museveni. I don't know if he has ability to refuse anything comes as advice from those two experienced manipulators.
What do Burundi's sanctions have to do with our interests? Yes it can be considered as a sign of solidarity, but what we need is to keep our interests first.

 

[Iconoclastes]

I can't believe that the two presidents tied the EPA proposed agreement to a political turmoil in Burundi to be the main obstacle on reaching agreement with the EU. Because there are other issues specific to each partner states in the EAC which will determine whether they will sign the EPA agreement or not.

I saw the news with some disbelief- and mirth. I thot they wanted a review of the terms of the deal, that that's what they would demand from the EU delegates in Dar.
But this.....?

 

[Jay456watt]

These idiots!! instead of pushing for a more favorable deal to EAC...a deal that is of mutual benefit to both EAC and EU, these guys are citing idiotic issues like lifting sanctions on Burundi???? they should have said that they will not sign until the EU opens up its market for more EAC products in order to balance the trade between the two blocs..right now, hawa wazungu wanakula 90 percent na sisi tunakula 10 percent...very unfavorable trade....I dont trust this EPA deal...we should not let European goods flood our markets and kill our ambitions for industrialization...this deal is not good for us at all...very sad! the colonialists are colonizing us all over again....

 

[machoalbi]

These idiots!! instead of pushing for a more favorable deal to EAC...a deal that is of mutual benefit to both EAC and EU, these guys are citing idiotic issues like lifting sanctions on Burundi???? they should have said that they will not sign until the EU opens up its market for more EAC products in order to balance the trade between the two blocs..right now, hawa wazungu wanakula 90 percent na sisi tunakula 10 percent...very unfavorable trade....I dont trust this EPA deal...we should not let European goods flood our markets and kill our ambitions for industrialization...this deal is not good for us at all...very sad! the colonialists are colonizing us all over again....

Well said Chief, well said!
But again this is Africa, I suggest you brace yourself for whatever is to come out of this saga

 

[waltham]

THIS IS BULL CRAP!!!! DICTATORS WATCHING OUT FOR ONE OF THEIR ONE ILK!!!!!!!!! GOD HELP EA..........

 

[ikisimama panda]

the thing I hate about us is, we tend to use a very small part of otherwise a complete explanation, twist it and arrive at a conclusion that suits our varied agendas different from what was initially expected of the explanation.. I heard the President speak so somehow I know the truth, what about the majority uninformed?

 

[ikisimama panda]

Now they want to play hard- to - get, the Burundi sanction is a very lame pretext for their refusal to sign the deal. We know they will eventually yeild to pressure.

The EU wouldnt lift the Burundi sanctions, just to get these countries to sign EPA, I dont see that happening.

Now they want to play hard- to - get, the Burundi sanction is a very lame pretext for their refusal to sign the deal. We know they will eventually yeild to pressure.

The EU wouldnt lift the Burundi sanctions, just to get these countries to sign EPA, I dont see that happening.

It disturbs my mind knowing you could be Tanzanian and you are busy laughing to the "fact" that we as a country could bow to the pressure and accept that white elephant!! but then again who am I to judge your instincts?!

 

[ISIS]

dictators gather in dar!

Acha kuwa kibaraka wa watu weupe! Jipende, penda rangi yako bara lako na nchi yako pia...,heshimu madaraka iliyoko madarakani kwani Mwenye Enzi Mungu hakosei katika kufanya mambo yetu ili tuweze kupata baraka! Tubu kwa maneno ya kuwatukana watu wake walio madarakani hivi hivi utalaaniwa wewe na kizazi chako!
Retired

 

[Sammuel999]

Lol its cute....its like a puppy barking...the level of stupidity is amazing

 

[HIMARS]

Wajinga wawili wamekutana

 

[Sammuel999]

Its like Unapewa option (na nyinyi ni wakulima) We want you to sell us everything u have we ront care if its 1bn$ or 100bn$ as long as you can produce it...alafu mnasema HatutWauzia kwanza mpaka mchukue ile Gunia moja ya viazi ya Jirani!!....

 

[Sammuel999]

Lol hawa watu wanatetea this stupid decisions hamjui uchungu wa kuproduce kitu alafu ukose market unaona zinaharibika tu mbele yako!!.....eti wacha kuwa kibaraka....how???? That burundian leader will still kill more people hao waliokufa no vibaraka???....

 

[Sammuel999]

I have just learned today that Newzealnd exports sheep meat to the EU worth 7bn$ every year ...SHEEP MAJAMA.....hapa Kenya tukiweka exports zetu zote kwa Bakuli moja Newzealand inaangua kicheko

 

[mtanzania1989]

Hili gazeti ni la wapi, huo uandishi mbona umekaa ki propaganda sana? Yaani kati ya sababu zote zilizotolewa yeye kaiona moja tu ya vikwazo vya Burundi, sababu zilitolewa nyingi tu ila yeye kaamua aonyeshe picha nyingine kabisa kuwa EPA haijasainiwa sababu ya Burundi.

EPA kamwe haitasainiwa na Tz kama mambo muhimu Tz yenye mashaka nayo hayatabadilishwa, hizi propaganda nyingine ni kupitisha siku ila mjue mnapoteza muda, Magu ana msimamo sana hawezi yumbishwa sababu ya ujinga wenu.

 

[ISIS]

Acha kuwa kibaraka wa watu weupe! Jipende, penda rangi yako bara lako na nchi yako pia...,heshimu madaraka iliyoko madarakani kwani Mwenye Enzi Mungu hakosei katika kufanya mambo yetu ili tuweze kupata baraka! Tubu kwa maneno ya kuwatukana watu wake walio madarakani hivi hivi utalaaniwa wewe na kizazi chako!
Retired

 

[ISIS]

Hili gazeti ni la wapi, huo uandishi mbona umekaa ki propaganda sana? Yaani kati ya sababu zote zilizotolewa yeye kaiona moja tu ya vikwazo vya Burundi, sababu zilitolewa nyingi tu ila yeye kaamua aonyeshe picha nyingine kabisa kuwa EPA haijasainiwa sababu ya Burundi.

EPA kamwe haitasainiwa na Tz kama mambo muhimu Tz yenye mashaka nayo hayatabadilishwa, hizi propaganda nyingine ni kupitisha siku ila mjue mnapoteza muda, Magu ana msimamo sana hawezi yumbishwa sababu ya ujinga wenu.

Well said! Maana kuna ma idiots waliopewa simu na bundle la bure!