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<p>We continue to raise our concerns about the diminishing political space and use
of political violence during regular exchanges with the Burundian government. The
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon.
Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge), did so during
a meeting with the Burundian Foreign Minister in September 2014. We have also joined
EU partners in expressing our concerns publicly, most recently in the form of March
EU Council Conclusions on Burundi. We were involved in the successful campaigns for
the release of imprisoned activists such as Pierre Claver Mbonimpa and Bob Rugurika.
Officials met Mbonimpa in his offices shortly after his release in October 2014. Our
Ambassador to Burundi visited Rugurika in prison on 12 February 2015. Both meetings
were publicised on social media channels to demonstrate our support for the activists
and their work.</p><p> </p>
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