European Union suspends funding to Burundi's government

The European Union (EU) has suspended direct support to the government of Burundi.

The trade bloc said the authorities in Bujumbura had not sufficiently addressed the EU's concerns.

A significant chunk of government expenditure is funded by the EU. The union said 400 people had died and nearly 240,000 had fled the country since the political strife began.

The violence was triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's announcement that he would run for a third term. Union Foreign Affairs Commissioner Federica Mogherini said the Burundi situation was serious and the EU would continue to fund humanitarian programmes.