Burundi - Pierre Buyoya and the Government

Major Buyoya survived more than two years of sanctions imposed on Burundi by Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Eritrea and the Democratic Republic of Congo after seizing power from the civilian government in July 1996. How effective were they? Though no commercial flights were permitted into Burundi, planes from Belgium and the United Arab Emirates landed regularly with the staples Burundians needed to survive: Moet & Chandon champagne, American bourbons and Scotch whiskeys, French cheese, stereos, VCRs and Celine Dione CDs. The sanctions have been blamed for the continuing violence in Burundi. But now that they have been (at least temporarily) lifted, rebel leaders who supported the embargo have intensified their campaign against the government. As one aid worker said: "If things don't improve soon with the lifting of the sanctions, then this government will have a problem." (It must've been his first week in-country.) But the embargo was at least effective enough to prevent luxury items from reaching Burundians, like food and medicine-forcing Buyoya to toke on the peace pipe at Arusha.

http://www.burundi.gov/presi.htm