On
Burundi, IMF
Tells ICP $6.9
M Program
Discussion in
June No Longer
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May
14, with video
-- Amid the
protests and
crackdown
after Pierre
Nkurunziza was
nominated to
run for a
third term as
President in
seeming
violation of
the Arusha
Peace Accord,
on May 13
General
Godefroid
Niyombare
announced the
ouster of
Nkurunziza
while the
latter was in
Tanzania for
the East
African
Community
meeting.
On May 14,
Inner City
Press has
asked the
International
Monetary Fund's
spokesperson
Gerry Rice at
the IMF
biweekly
embargoed
briefing:
"On
Burundi, after
the IMF's
announcement
of $6.9
million in the
run up to
elections, now
with General
Godefroid
Niyombare
saying Pierre
Nkurunziza is
no longer in
power, what is
the status of
the IMF's
funds and
program, when
will it be
reviewed?"
Rice took this
question and
replied that
the "IMF is
following the
current
developments
in Burundi
very
closely.
The Fund-supported
program that
was recently
approved, it's
fair to say
that given the
current
security situation,
the timing of
our next
discussions
with the
authorities
has yet to be
determined."
Tw
weeks ago on
April 30, the
IMF told Inner
City Press on
Burundi
"Many
thanks for
your question.
Please see our
line
below:
'We
are continuing
to monitor
developments
in Burundi.
Regarding the
ECF-supported
program that
was recently
approved, our
next meeting
with the
authorities is
tentatively
scheduled to
take place in
June, at which
time we will
assess
progress
toward the
completion of
the 7th
review.'"
So,
no more June?
(On May 14
Rice also
answered Inner
City Press on
Nepal, saying
an IMF team is
"on the
ground" and
considering
all feasible
options. Debt
relief?
Questions
remain
outstanding on
Tunisia, Ghana
and Jamaica.)
Watch
this site.
With the UN
Security
Council set to
hear from Said
Djinnit around
noon in New
York, at 9:30
am in front of
the Security
Council UK
deputy
ambassador
Peter Wilson
said he
wouldn't speak
on Burundi
until after
Djinnit's
briefing.
Throughout
May 13 Inner
City Press
asked the
Presidency of
the UN
Security
Council for
May,
Lithuania,
when Burundi
might be
addressed. At
the luncheon
with the
Secretary
General was
the first
response.
Then
after five
p.m. Inner
City Press
asked
Lithuania's
Permanent
Representative
to the UN, who
replied there
will be an
emergency
meeting on
Burundi on May
14 after the
Council's
previously
scheduled
meeting on
Iraq; Said
Djinnit will
brief.
But
what will he
say?
On
May 15, the UN
Peacebuilding
Configuration
on Burundi is
set to hear
from UN DPA
chief Jeff
Feltman. On
Monday they
heard from
Minister
Nduwimana -
where is he
now?.
, 
