Ban appeals to Burundian authorities to consider postponing elections

Expressing concern over what it called grave threats to security in Burundi as elections approached, the Security Council. Later in the day, called for the urgent holding of inclusive dialogue between parties there to create the conditions — and determine an appropriate schedule — for peaceful and credible polls.

Through a statement read out by Ramlan Bin Ibrahim of Malaysia, Council President for June, the 15-member body strongly condemned violence and human rights violations in the country ahead of the planned communal, presidential and senatorial elections, and welcomed efforts to address the crisis by the East African Community and the African Union Peace and Security Council, among other regional actors.

Through the text, the Council emphasized that dialogue should address protecting freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, including the right of members of the political opposition to campaign freely; the release of those arbitrarily detained following demonstrations; respect for the rule of law; the urgent disarmament of armed groups allied with political parties and all matters on which the parties disagree.

The Council took note of the African Union’s statement that political dialogue to this point had not made adequate progress on those matters and that the current situation could jeopardize important gains recorded since the signing of the Arusha Agreement for peace in Burundi and the ceasefire of 2003, affecting the stability of the region.

It also took note of the Union’s Communiqué stating that the date of the election should be set by consensus between the Burundian parties, in the spirit of the East African Community’s statement of 31 May 2015 — which requested postponement — and on the basis of a technical assessment to be undertaken by the United Nations.

The Council welcomed the African Union’s decision to deploy human rights observers in Burundi and to put in place military experts to verify the disarming of the youth groups, as well as to send an election observer mission if conditions for free and fair elections were met, with a ministerial delegation to visit by the first week of July to assess those conditions.

The 15-member body called on the Electoral Mission of the United Nations in Burundi (MENUB) to fully perform its role and to swiftly report to the Security Council before, during and after the elections. Reiterating concern over the difficult situation of refugees from Burundi in neighbouring States, the Council called on the international community to provide humanitarian assistance and urged the Government to create the conditions conducive to their return.

Photo: UNHCR/F. Scoppa