EU Orders Evacuation As Burundi Violence Escalates

CSM: EU orders evacuation in Burundi as fears of mass atrocities grow

The decision follows a resolution passed Thursday by the UN Security Council that condemns the rising violence in the central African nation.

The European Union announced Friday it will begin evacuating staff families and non-essential employees from Burundi, the latest sign that escalating political violence in the Central African country has the international community worried.

"We have decided to evacuate temporarily the families and part of the non-essential staff but the (EU) delegation will continue functioning normally," an EU official told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The political crisis sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza's constitutionally questionable third-term bid in April has raised fears that Burundi could slide into an ethnic conflict in a region where memories of genocide in next-door neighbor Rwanda remain strong.

More News On the Growing Violence In Burundi

EU to evacuate families, some staff from violence-hit Burundi -- AFP
EU to pull staff and families out of Burundi as violence escalates -- DW
British UN envoy warns of 'possible genocide' in Burundi -- Telegraph
UN, AU, EU raise alarm on Burundi crisis spreading -- Defence Web/Reuters
Surge in violence in Burundi raises concerns at UN Security Council and the European Union -- Euronews
Burundi opposition asks U.N. to send peacekeepers quickly -- Reuters
US Envoy in Uganda to Encourage Burundi Peace Talks -- AP
Ugandan defence minister arrives in Burundi to continue mediation efforts -- RFI
“Bodies dumped on the streets on an almost nightly basis": Burundi’s crisis, explained -- Zack Beauchamp, VOX