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8016th Security Council Meeting: Situation in Burundi
The Security Council, in a presidential statement today, expressed deep concern over the political situation in Burundi — including increasing numbers of refugees and reports of torture, forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings — and strongly urged the Government and all parties to immediately cease and reject such violence.
In the statement read out by Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta (Egypt), Council President for August, the 15-nation body noted that while the security situation in Burundi had remained generally calm, violence and the persisting political impasse had undermined the gains achieved through the 2000 Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, with devastating consequences for the country and the region. It also underscored its deep concern about the worsening humanitarian situation, marked by nearly 202,000 internally displaced persons, 3 million in need and more than 416,000 Burundians seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.
In particular, the Council strongly condemned all public statements from both within and outside Burundi that incited violence or hatred towards different groups, including calls for the forced impregnation of women and girls. Demanding that all sides refrain from any action that would threaten the country’s peace and stability, it also reiterated its intention to pursue targeted measures against all actors — inside and outside Burundi — who threatened the nation’s peace and security.
Commending regional efforts to help Burundians find political solutions and reiterating its support to the facilitation led by former United Republic of Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa under the mediation of Uganda President Yoweri Museveni in his capacity as Chair of the East African Community, the Council urged the Government to reengage with international partners — especially the United Nations — in a constructive manner based on mutual trust. In that regard, it reiterated its regret at the Government’s decision to suspend all cooperation and collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which had been present in Burundi since 1995, and called for a swift solution to enable that body to fully resume its activities.
Among other things, the Council also reiterated its concern over significant delays in the deployment of African Union human rights observers and military experts, noting that only 40 of the former and 8 of the latter had been deployed to Burundi so far. Reaffirming the Government’s primary responsibility for ensuring security in its territory and protecting its population, with respect for the rule of law, human rights and international humanitarian law, it also called on States in the region to contribute to a solution to the crisis in Burundi and to refrain from supporting the activities of armed movements in any way.
The meeting began at 10:05 a.m. and ended at 10:07 a.m.
