Thousands took to the streets of Burundi Saturday in a show of support for the government after the EU and U.S. resumed aid to the central African nation, AFP reported.

Brussels and Washington both cited political progress under President Evariste Ndayishimiye for their decisions to lift sanctions on Burundi.

Burundi was plunged into deadly turmoil in 2015 when then-president Pierre Nkurunziza launched a bid for a third term in office.

The EU and the U.S. imposed sanctions over the violence that claimed the lives of 1,200 Burundians and sent 400,000 fleeing the country.

MORE FROM AFRIUPDATE

President Muhammadu Buhari receives Mr. Audance Niyonzima, a Special Envoy of President of Burundi, H.E Evariste Ndayishinmye this afternoon at the State House, Abuja.

Once the biggest aid donor to Burundi, the EU said Tuesday it decided to resume funding because of the “peaceful political process that started with the general elections of May 2020 and which has opened a new window of hope for the population of Burundi”.

The U.S. followed suit on Friday, with what Burundi said was a $400 million five-year aid deal for “sustainable development” in the country, where the World Bank has put the poverty rate at about 87 percent.

Burundi has been in the grip of an economic malaise since the 2015 unrest, with a lack of foreign exchange and shortages of basic goods such as fuel, certain foodstuffs, building materials and medicines.

Follow our socials Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google News.