This time seems to be the right one for the Burundi government. "This is a very nice New Year's gift for the Burundian government," assures a source, speaking of the decision taken internally at the beginning of the week to lift budgetary sanctions against Gitega.

In place for five years, these sanctions had been recently extended due to a lack of general consensus. This time, a solution to the legal problem that was blocking their lifting has been found according to these sources, who speak of the difficulty encountered by the European organization in transposing sanctions provided for by the Cotonou Agreement to the agreement that will replace it.

In Brussels, they also emphasize the resumption of political dialogue with the Burundian authorities since February of this year, after five years of complete rupture. They also highlight the openness gestures of President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who has allegedly expressed his willingness to turn the page on the 2015 crisis. "It is also the only way to get back in the game and be able to have influence," explains one of our sources.

Officialization coming soon

This is not the view of European Member of Parliament Maria Arena, who recalls that the Burundian government has just rejected the UN special rapporteur on Burundi even before his appointment. "The signal given by the Burundian president does not point in the direction of lifting sanctions," judges the European Member of Parliament, but she recalls that ultimately "this decision belongs to the Council of European Ministers."

"It is already decided," our sources assured, speaking of an officialization of the decision at the next Council of Ministers in January.