The United States has expressed concern over remarks made by Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who recently urged citizens of the small African nation, to stone gay people.
The remarks reportedly escalated a crackdown on sexual minorities in a nation where LGBT people face social ostracism and jail terms of up to two years if convicted of same-sex offences. “The United States is deeply troubled by President Ndayishimiye’s remarks targeting certain vulnerable and marginalized Burundians,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement on Friday.
“We call on all of Burundi’s leaders to respect the inherent dignity and inalienable rights, including equal access to justice, of every member of Burundian society.” “Such efforts are an essential precursor to spur the economic growth necessary to improve conditions for all Burundians.”
The State Department statement did not refer specifically to the remarks about stoning but was a clear reference to remarks by Ndayishimiye at a public event late last month. Responding to a question on gay couples, Ndayishimiye, according to AFP said, “Personally, I think if we see these kind of individuals in Burundi, we should put them in a stadium and stone them.”
Burundi’s ties improved in recent years with the United States, which had imposed sanctions in 2015 over a deadly crackdown on dissent as Ndayishimiye’s predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza controversially sought a third term. The United States in 2022 agreed to a five-year aid package with Burundi after removing sanctions, in part crediting reforms by Ndayishimiye.
The US statement Friday did not threaten repercussions. In May, Uganda passed a law that carried the death sentence for certain categories of same-sex offences. The United States has imposed a range of sanctions including travel restrictions and removing Uganda from a tariff-free trade deal.
(With agency inputs)
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