Burundi is back in the official French-speaking body–the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF). The francophone organization says it will fully resume its multilateral cooperation with Burundi after four years of suspension.
Burundi rejoined the international organization of 88 countries as a full member after sanctions were lifted on the country. French is OIF’s customary language.
It is believed that the lifting of the restrictive measures taken against Burundi following the 2015 socio-political crisis by the organization is a strong message to the entire international community.
The OIF says it had taken note of “the commitments made by the new authorities in favour of the well-being, independence, and daily security of Burundians, as well as the guarantee of their rights and freedoms.”
A violent crisis has led to the deaths of nearly a thousand persons and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Burundians in several neighbouring countries after five years of a politically-challenging state of affairs in the country.
Burundi joined the Francophonie in 1970, eight years after gaining independence from Belgium.