On
Burundi, UN
Tells ICP
"Supportive"
of Museveni,
Checking on
Rights
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, July
15 -- As in
Burundi the
crackdown on
those opposing
or even
questioning a
third term for
Pierre
Nkurunziza
continued
through the
boycotted
parliamentary
elections on
June 29,
Nkurunziza
dismissed the
UN's
replacement
mediator
Abdoulaye
Bathily,
ostensibly
because he
wasn't
sufficiently
deferential to
Nkurunziza
(with whom UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon has
been unable to
speak for some
time.)
Inner
City Presss:
on Burundi,
President
[Yoweri]
Museveni has
left the
country, his
proposal was
not
accepted.
He's left his
defence
minister
there. One,
did the UN
stand behind
those
proposals?
Did they have
any idea what
proposals he
was going to
make?
Are they now
working with
the defence
minister?
It's
okay. I
have another
one on this,
but it's up to
you.
Spokesman
Dujarric:
As I said, the
UN supported
the mediation
process put
forward by the
East Africa
Community,
which is being
led by
Museveni.
I don't have
any more
details from
what is
actually…
Inner City
Press:
How did the UN
support it?
Spokesman:
We're
supporting…
we're
supportive of
the
facilitation
effort.
Inner City
Press: There
are also
reports there
that the
authorities
are declining
to give death
certificates
to people
killed by
either police
or
militia.
And I wanted
to know… you'd
said that the
human rights
mechanism of
the UN that's
there is
there… is
recording and
routinely
reports.
So where are
the reports?
Spokesman:
I will check
when they're
next scheduled
to report.
Inner
City Press: On
Burundi, now
President
[Yoweri]
Museveni is in
Bujumbura.
They say he's
holding these
talks in the
Hotel Bel Air
residence.
Is Mr.
[Abdoulaye]
Bathily or any
UN
representative
taking part,
and do you
have anything
on a possible
FDLR presence
on the border?
Spokesman:
I don't
believe Mr.
Bathily is
there. I
know the
Secretary-General
and President
Museveni spoke
briefly
yesterday, if
I'm not
mistaken.
They are
scheduled to
speak before
the day is
over. I
have nothing
on the Burundi
border.
Moments later
Inner City
Press asked
the UN's envoy
to the DR
Congo Martin
Kobler about
the FDLR, both
in DRC and as
regards
Burundi. Video
here. First,
the Security
Council's
president for
July Gerard
von Bohemen
indicated that
the only
discussion of
Burundi on
July 14 was as
a source of
refugees to
DRC, which
Kobler said
the DRC could
handle.
In
the Security
Council
chamber,
Kobler had
said, "I have
been
monitoring the
situation in
Burundi very
closely, as
the country
has descended
into violence
over the last
two months.
Today, over
140,000 people
have fled into
neighboring
countries,
including
12,800 to the
DRC. I
highlight
these events
to remind us
again of the
importance of
respecting the
constitution,
and of
creating the
necessary
political
space for a
national
consensus
around
elections."
Inner City
Press asked
Kobler if by
this he meant
that a third
term for
Pierre
Nkurunziza
would violate
the
constitution
of Burundi, or
Arusha
Agreements.
But Kobler
didn't answer
this. (Reuters
cut in, and
didn't report
a word of what
Kobler said
about
Burundi).
On July 13,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric:
Inner
City Press: On
Burundi, you
said that the
UN human
rights team
there is
recording...
when are they
going to
report
that?
There are
these pictures
of people
described as
rebels being
arrested by
the Government
that many
people are
saying are
just farmers
who happened
to belong to
opposition
parties.
There's also
pictures of
corpses.
When is the UN
actually going
to report on
what it's
witnessed in
the last day?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
I'll check
with them, but
our human
rights
colleagues
tend to report
on a regular
basis.
So when will
that be? Inner
City Press on
July 13 also
asked
Dujarric:
Inner
City Press:
MONUSCO
[United
Nations
Organization
Stabilization
Mission in the
Democratic
Republic of
the Congo],
ist said there
are forces on
the border now
with Burundi
gathered.
So I'm asking
you this now,
because
there's some
concern coming
from both
directions,
interventions.
Is it anything
to your
knowledge that
MONUSCO, DRC
or DPA is
aware of?
Spokesman:
Let me
check.
Thank you,
all.
Have great
day.
To
this has the
UN been
reduced.
From
the July 10
transcript:
Inner
City Press: I
wanted to ask
you in
Burundi,
they're now,
you know, in
the last
hours, there's
reports of
heavy gunfire
on border with
Rwanda.
There's been
grenade
attacks in the
capital, and
some are
saying that
people seeking
to flee are
not being
allowed to by
the ruling
party's
militia.
So what's the
status of the
UN both
observing
these
things?
Does the UN
acknowledge
that things
have actually
gotten heated
up since even
yesterday's
Security
Council
meeting?
Spokesman:
No,
clearly.
I think we
very much
strongly
condemn any
type of
violent
action, any
action that is
meant to
destabilize
the already
tense and
fragile
situation in
Burundi.
We've taken
note, as you
mentioned,
very recently
there have
been clashes,
reported
clashes
between
Burundi's
national
defence forces
and
unidentified
armed groups
in the
country's
north on the
Rwandan
border, and
we're
following the
situation
closely.
And we're
trying to
verify the
authenticity
of these
reports.
Inner City
Press:
Given that… I
mean it seems
like there's
no real public
accounting or
reporting
about the
Museveni
facilitation
and there
obviously…
there's some
issues in
Uganda at
present, so
maybe these
occupied by
those.
But what's the
UN doing in
terms of…
Spokesman:
I think we're
there to
support this
facilitation,
which is
organized by
the East
African
Community
under the
blessing of
the African
Union.
So you should
also address
your questions
to them.
After the
Security
Council's last
meeting of
July 9, about
Syria, Inner
City Press
asked the
Council's
president for
July, Gerard
van Bohemen of
New Zealand,
if the idea of
postponing
Burundi's
election for a
mere week to
July 22 was
discussed in
closed door
consultations.
He replied
that
Constitutional
issues were
discussed but
no decision or
conclusion
reached. Video
here.
Earlier
in the day at
the UN noon
briefing on
July 9, Inner
City Press
asked UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric for
the UN's or
Ban's position
on a delay of
a mere week,
to July 22, transcript here:
Inner
City Press: in
Tayé Brook
Zerihoun’s
briefing to
the Council
about Burundi,
he said that
there's been
no formal
forum for
dialogue since
26 June, and
then the
permanent
representative
of Burundi
said that
there is some
discussion of
moving back
the election a
week to 21-22
July, he said,
consistent
with the
Constitution.
So I wanted to
know, is Mr.
[Abdoulaye]
Bathily part
of these
discussions?
And what does
the UN
think?
Does the UN
think that a
one-week
extension is…
addresses the
issues that
were raised
by…
Spokesman
Dujarric:
I think the
issues of the
political
climate and to
create a
political
climate is
conducive to
elections in
Burundi will
be discussed
through the
facilitation
mechanism,
which will be
led by Mr.
[Yoweri]
Museveni and
supported by
the UN.
Inner City
Press:
But since he's
saying… as of
today, he said
there is no
mechanism, so
it's going to
begin between
now and the
15th or now
and…
Spokesman
Dujarric:
Again, this
will be led by
President
Museveni, so I
would urge you
to ask
questions in
that
direction.
(Before
the Security
Council
meeting
started, the
questions or
chatter
outside was
unrelated to
Burundi.)
Inner
City Press: In
the Srebrenica
debate just
now, Prince
Zeid said the
UN must be
resolute.
Had this been
in the case in
Sri Lanka in
2009 or now in
Sudan, Syria,
Central
African
Republic or
even Burundi
and Myanmar,
the
consequences
would have
been
different.
I have
questions
about a number
of those
countries, but
I wanted to
ask you, on
Burundi, where
he says "even
Burundi", I
wanted to
know, one,
does the UN
have any
response now
that the
ruling party
has announced
its whopping
win on 29
June?
And, two,
people are
coming forward
with names of
victims and
names of
alleged
killers,
including
victim Serge
Bizimana, and
they say
police officer
[UN says
inaudible, ICP
said JM
Havugayezu]
killed
him.
They have a
picture of
him.. I'm just
wondering:
What is the UN
doing on the
ground to…
either to look
into these
cases after
the fact or
prevent them
going forward?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
Well, I think
on… on the
political
situation, as
I said
yesterday, we
fully support
the work of
the
facilitation,
which will now
be led by Mr.
[Yoweri]
Museveni.
And obviously,
the
Secretary-General
fully supports
the work of
the High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights, his
team, and the
human rights
situation in
Burundi is of
concern, as
we've often
stated.
Inner City
Press:
But, just one
follow-up.
If… if as the
report that
was read out
from this
podium last
week was that
the elections
held on 29
June didn't
have the
conditions of
fairness or
freedom and…
so what's your
response to
the results
that are
announced?
Does the UN
recognize
those results?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
It's not up to
the UN to
recognize or
not recognize
the
results.
We did not
participate in
the election,
as I
understand
it. It
is clear that
all Burundian
parties need
to support the
facilitation
to create the
right
political
atmosphere.
Inner City
Press:
What was MENUB
(United
Nations
Electoral
Mission in
Burundi] doing
if not
participating
and
observing?
I mean,
there's this…
Spokesman
Dujarric:
I
understand.
I do not
believe they
were involved
in these
particular
elections.
Again we ask:
so MENUB was
NOT observing
the June 29
elections,
just as UNDP's
Helen Clark
tweeted then
deleted? This
is a new low
for the UN. On
July 9, Zeid
and Tayé-Brook
Zerihoun are
set to brief
the Security
Council. Watch
this site.
On
July 7, Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric:
Inner
City Press: I
wanted to ask
you on
Burundi, I
know that Mr.
[Abdoulaye]
Bathily did go
to the EAC
(East African
Community)
meeting.
They basically
named Yoweri
Museveni as
the
facilitator
between the
Government and
the opposition
in Burundi and
asked the
Government to
delay the
presidential
election at
least until
the end of
July. I
wanted to
know, one,
does the UN
play any role
in this
Museveni
mediation?
Two, does the
UN, DPA
(Department of
Political
Affairs) or
Mr. Bathily,
do they
support this
call to
postpone the
election?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
Sure. I
think… yes,
Mr. Bathily
took part in
the EAC
meeting.
He briefed on
his role as
part of the
international
facilitation.
We've taken
note of what
has come out
of the summit,
of the East
African
Summit.
And we very
much welcome
the
appointment of
Ugandan
President
Museveni as
the
facilitator of
the dialogue
in
Burundi.
Obviously, we
will see how
President
Museveni
intends to
take this new
format
forward.
But what is
clear is that
the UN will
support this
facilitation
effort in a
way that helps
create the
right
atmosphere for
elections in
Burundi.
Inner City
Press:
Given that
it's now the
7th and the
election is…
and President
Nkurunziza is
campaigning
and the date
is set for the
15th, can you
imagine this
facilitation
somehow
creating the
conditions
that… that the
UN… the MENUB
(United
Nations
Electoral
Mission in
Burundi)
report said
should be
required by
the 15th?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
You know,
obviously, I
think it's…
the situation
in Burundi has
been
challenging,
to say the
least.
We have a new
facilitation
format, I
think, led by
a regional
President.
We'll support
that, and,
obviously,
it's up to Mr.
Museveni to
take it
forward.
But the UN
very much will
support his
action.
We hope they
do get under
way as quickly
as possible.
Inner City
Press:
And last, has
the
Secretary-General
made any call
since your
last listing,
where he spoke
to President
[Jakaya]
Kikwete?
Does he intend
to speak with
President
Museveni or
anyone else on
this topic?
Spokesman:
The
Secretary-General
and his aides
remain in
contact with
regional
leaders.
Obviously, the
Secretary-General
will be out of
pocket,
basically for
the next 24
hours.
But as soon as
we can update
you the phone
list, we will.
In the eight
hours after,
no updates
were given.
The "out of
pocket" Ban
Ki-moon
managed to
issue a
statement,
about Boko
Haram. Inner
City Press
asked the
president of
the Security
Council for
July, Gerard
van Bohemen,
is last week's
draft press
statement is
dead. He
replied it was
decided that
the previous
Presidential
Statement was
strong. But
that was
before the
June 29
election, no?
The Security
Council is
scheduled to
meet about
Burundi again
on July 9;
we'll be
there.
The day before
on July 6,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq
about it.
(This was
before the
East African
Community
urged
postponement
until July 30
and named
Yoweri
Museveni as
the mediator,
and UN DPA did
not respond
with its
position). From the July 6
UN transcript:
Inner
City Press:
over the
weekend or
even now a
couple of days
ago, it seems
like the
Government in
Burundi has
said that they
reject Mr.
[Abdoulaye]
Bathily as the
mediator,
saying he
wasn't
sufficiently
deferential,
or they didn't
actually kind
of register or
meet with
him.
One, I wanted
to know what
your response
is to their
critique of
what he's
done.
But, also,
what's the
next
step? Is
it the case
that he's no
longer
mediating
there?
Who's
representing
the UN at the
EAC [East
African
Community]
meeting?
And what…
what's the
Secretary-General's
thoughts as we
approach 15
July?
Thanks.
Deputy
Spokesman
Haq:
Okay.
Well, first of
all, on the
question of
these remarks
that you saw
over the
weekend in the
media, the
Secretary-General
expresses his
deep
appreciation
for the work
done so far by
Special
Representative
Abdoulaye
Bathily as a
member of the
Joint
International
Facilitation
Team.
The Joint
International
Facilitation
Team, of which
Special
Representative
Bathily is a
member, was
established by
a Summit of
the African
Union Peace
and Security
Council.
The
conclusions
reached by the
Facilitation
Team were
endorsed by
all the
organizations
forming the
team. We
reiterate our
full support
for the
diplomatic
initiatives
that Special
Representative
Bathily has
conducted with
professionalism
and integrity,
and in
coordination
with the other
members of the
Joint
International
Facilitation
Team.
You asked what
he's doing
right
now. Mr.
Bathily
attended the
East African
Community, the
EAC Summit
today in
Dar-es-Salaam
at the
invitation of
the EAC Chair,
President
Jakaya Kikwete
of
Tanzania.
We will await
the report
from the EAC
summit before
considering
further
actions to
facilitate
political
dialogue among
Burundian
stakeholders.
The UN is
committed to
helping the
Burundian
parties create
the conditions
for peaceful
and credible
elections.
This requires
a
corresponding
commitment
from the
parties,
acting in good
faith, to
achieve this
goal.
Inner City
Press:
Can you see
the election
going forward
on the 15…
given the
report that
came out last
Thursday and
the impending
presidential
election with
Mr. [Pierre]
Nkurunziza
running, can
the UN foresee
that as being
even possibly
fair, free and
without
violence?
Deputy
Spokesman
Haq:
Well, this is
ultimately a
question
that's up to
the Burundian
parties
themselves.
You'll have
seen what we
have been
saying in
recent days,
and we stand
by what we've
said.
And, regarding
further steps,
of course,
again, we'll
await a report
from the EAC
summit before
we consider
further
actions
Meanwhile
Burundian
civil society
organizations
have said they
"condemn the
electoral
forcing made
by President
Nkurunziza
in as much as
it is a
dead-end path
taken in total
disregard of
the Arusha
Agreement, the
Constitution
and the
relevant
decisions
taken by the
East African
Community and
the African
Union."
Back on July 2
UN deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq at
the noon
briefing
announced that
the UN's
observer MENUB
mission's
report "is
available in
my Office."
Inner City
Press, which
has been
asking for and
about the
report for two
days,
immediately
went there.
But it was NOT
in the
Spokesperson's
Office. Back
in the
briefing room,
Inner City
Press asked
why not, and
if UN human
rights
official Ivan
Simonovic
would make
public his
Office's
findings about
killings in
Burundi. "It's
a closed
meeting," Haq
replied, of
the Security
Council
proceedings.
Haq in
response to
Inner City
Press'
question read
out a short
summary of the
MENUB
report.
Reuters
reported Haq's
if-asked AS
the UN's
findings, and
later another
global media
couched the
UN's position
on Burundi as
something that
spokesperson
Haq "told
Reuters." This
is the UN,
& Reuters.
Later the
MENUB report
did become
available, in
hard copy.
Inner City
Press tweeted
a photo and
the conclusion
that on June
29 "the
environment
was not
conducive to
free, credible
and inclusive
elections.”
But as Inner
City Press
asked Haq,
doesn't that
apply to the
presidential
election still
set for July
15? Inner City
Press asked if
Ban thinks it
should be
postponed;
there was no
clear answer.
Will the UN be
represented at
the East
African
Community
meeting on
July 6 or 7?
UNclear.
Here's more of
the MENUB
report:
MENUB
“observed
media freedom
restrictions,
violations of
human rights
and other
fundamental
freedoms;" it
was in “50
municipalities
out of 119...
polling
procedures
were not
respected in
all cases.”
Inner
City Press
continues to
ask, if MENUB
and Burundi
were so
important to
the UN, why
was the
mission's
chair Cassam
Uteem not
replaced upon
departure?
Inner
City Press
asked Haq who
in the UN
system is
monitoring or
even simply
counting the
people killed
in Cibitoke
and elsewhere.
Haq mentioned
the Office of
the High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights, whose
Prince Zeid is
slated to
brief the
Security
Council next
week. That
Office is
bound up in a
scandal about
not reporting
sexual abuse
of children in
the Central
African
Republic. And
here?
As
Inner City
Press reported
on June 30, a
coalition of
civil society
groups has
written to the
African Union
urging
sanctions on
Nkurunziza.
Inner City
Press has obtained
the letter and
put it online
here.
This comes as
the United
States
proposes UN
sanctions
against at
least six
individuals in
South Sudan,
and after the
US State
Department on
June 29 put
out this
statement:
"The
United States
supports the
AU’s decision
not to send
electoral
observers in
recognition
that free,
fair and
credible
elections are
impossible
given the
current
security
situation and
the closure of
political and
media
space.
We share the
AU’s concern
about the
hardships
facing the
people of
Burundi and
urge President
Nkurunziza to
cooperate
fully with the
AU and
regional
organizations
to resolve the
current crisis
and enable
credible
elections to
go forward at
a later date."
If the US
supports the
AU position,
what of the
UN's UNclear
position?
On
June 30, Inner
City Press
asked UN
Deputy
Spokesperson
Farhan Haq
where the
observation(s)
of MENUB are.
Tomorrow, he
said. We'll
see.
On June 28,
both UN
Secretary
General and
the UN's MENUB
said that the
MENUB mission
IS observing
the
legislative
election,
unlike the
African Union
which
announced that
it would not,
due to
conditions not
being met.
But in a
parallel
universe, on
June 29 the
head of the UN
Development
Program Helen
Clark tweeted
that "UN is
not observing
and has
withdrawn from
support to the
conduct of the
election."
Then after
Inner City
Press noted
it, Clark
deleted it.
Thus does the
UN try to have
it both ways.
Later on June
29 along with
a question
about climate
change Inner
City Press
asked Ban
Ki-moon about
Burundi, and
if the UN is
observing. Video here. From the UN's own
transcript:
Inner
City Press:
Because it is
the day of the
election in
Burundi, I
have to ask
this, where
does it stand
for the
international
community for
an election
that is taking
place without
any observers,
what can be
done? What is
the next step
forward?
SG Ban
Ki-moon: "Let
me briefly
answer your
question about
the current
situation in
Burundi.
Yesterday, all
day long, I
have been
speaking to
some African
leaders in the
region,
including
President
Kikwete of
Tanzania who
is acting as
President of
the East
African
Community. I
have also
spoken to AU
Chairperson
Madame Zuma,
as well as
President Zuma
of South
Africa. They
are the
leaders who
have been
constantly
engaging in
this. I have
been
expressing my
serious
concern that
while all the
opposition
political
parties have
boycotted -
and even the
Vice-President
and the
Parliamentary
speakers –
they have all
condemned and
criticized
President
Nkurunziza and
left their
country
because of
their serious
concern. While
UNDP and the
United Nations
have withdrawn
our electoral
support there,
our United
Nations
observation
team is now
observing this
election
process. Now
it seems that
the election
has been
continuing. I
reiterated my
appeal to all
Burundian
political
leaders to
consider the
wider interest
of the people
of their
country and to
resolve
political
issues through
dialogue in
order to
preserve peace
and strengthen
national
reconciliation.
I also
emphasize the
responsibility
of the
Government of
Burundi to
ensure that
the elections
take place in
a secure
environment
and also to
guarantee the
safety and
security of UN
observers, so
that they can
perform their
mandated
responsibilities
free from
intimidation
and
harassment.
This is
mandated by
the Security
Council. This
is what I can
tell you at
this time. I
am very
closely
observing and
watching and
coordinating
and consulting
with African
leaders. Thank
you."
While the
answer is
appreciated,
it remained
unclear what
Clark had
meant, and the
UN's stance on
the elections
and observing
them. Inner
City Press
asked for a
yes or no
answer, was
Clark wrong in
saying the UN
is not
observing -
and no clear
answer was
given.
We also note
that while
Laurent Fabius
of France, the
UN Security
Council
penholder on
Burundi, was
doing this as
a joint press
encounter with
Ban, Fabius
did not answer
on Burundi at
all. We'll
have more on
this.
Update: in
classic UN
fashion, after
being caught
trying to have
it both ways
on Burundi,
Helen Clark's
tweet simply
"disappeared"
- but here
is a cell
phone
photograph of
it
Even when the
UN purports to
answer on its
role, it does
so quietly and
selectively,
while
remaining too
quiet about
local radio
stations shut
down. Then Ban
Ki-moon speaks
in a
statement,
UNclear as
usual: this
time saying
that the UN's
MENUB mission
WILL observe
the elections,
and not even
adding that
observation
doesn't
validate the
voting. This
while the
African Union
has said it
will NOT
observe on
June 29, here.
On June 28,
Ban Ki-moon
issued a this
statement:
"The
Secretary-General
is concerned
about the
Government of
Burundi's
insistence on
going ahead
with elections
on 29 June
despite the
prevailing
political and
security
environment.
"The
International
Facilitation
Team in
Bujumbura has
been working
hard to assist
the Burundian
parties to
reach a
consensus on
the way
forward for
holding free,
fair inclusive
and peaceful
elections.
The
Secretary-General
deplores the
intransigence
of the parties
that caused
those
important
efforts to be
inconclusive.
"The
Secretary-General
recalls the
decisions of
the Security
Council,
including
resolution
2137 (2014),
which mandated
the United
Nations
Observer
Mission in
Burundi
(MENUB) to
observe the
elections. In
fulfilling its
mandate, MENUB
will continue
to work in a
professional
and impartial
manner, in
accordance
with national
laws
applicable to
electoral
matters and
international
instruments,
principles and
rules of
election
observation.
The
Secretary-General
emphasizes the
responsibility
of the
Government of
Burundi to
ensure that
elections take
place in a
secure
environment
and also to
guarantee the
safety and
security of UN
observers so
that they can
perform their
mandated
responsibilities
free from
intimidation
or harassment.
"The
Secretary-General
reiterates his
appeal to all
Burundian
political
leaders to
consider the
wider interest
of the people
of their
country and to
resolve
political
issues through
dialogue in
order to
preserve peace
and strengthen
national
reconciliation.
Condemning
recent attacks
reported in
the country,
he appeals to
all Burundians
to refrain
from violent
acts, in line
with the
Charter of
Non-Violence
agreed by all
parties."
What about not
validating?
On June 27,
the UN's
replacement
envoy Bathily
held a press
conference in
Bujumbura
which the UN
did not
live-stream,
nor provide an
audio feed or
file from
(unlike in
Mali), nor any
transcript
(unlike in DR
Congo).
Now the UN's
MENUB mission
has put out a
press release
arguing that
it is not
legitimating
Nkurunziza's
elections. But
this press
release was
not
distributed by
the UN
Spokesperson's
Office, to
which Inner
City Press has
directed
multiple
questions
about what, if
anything,
MENUB is
doing.
“MENUB
was put in
place in
accordance
with UN
Security
Council
resolution
2137 (2014).
MENUB is
mandated to
follow the
electoral
process in
Burundi
before, during
and after the
elections, to
to report to
the Secretary
General of the
UN who, for
his part, will
report to the
Security
Council. The
implementation
of this
mandate began
on January 1,
2015. To this
end, MENUB
operates in a
neutral and
impartial
manner. Its
observation is
carried out by
professionals
and is based
on national
laws,
international
instruments
and all the
applicable
rules and
principles of
election
observation.
The first time
of MENUB
observers were
deployed
across Burundi
starting in
January 2015.
“The
observation of
elections by
MENUB cannot
and should not
be interpreted
as support to
any party or
as a
validation of
the process.
“MENUB
invites all
relevant
parties to
respect the
neutrality of
the observers
deployed on
the ground and
gives
heartfelt
thanks to the
support
afforded to it
in the
execution of
its mandate.”
Is it true,
that MENUB's
now murky role
CANNOT be
interpreted as
validating or
legitimating
Nkurunziza's
elections?
Especially now
that Ban
Ki-moon has
"spoken"
without saying
anything about
not
validating?
A coalition of
civil society
groups in
Burundi issued
a call for a
systematic
boycott of the
parliamentary
election set
for June 29.
(If held,
these
elections
could be a set
up to further
change the
constitution.)
So when the
UN's
replacement
envoy to
Burundi,
UNOCA's
Bathily, held
a press
conference in
Bujumbura on
June 27, one
would have
expect the UN
to find a way
to live-stream
or at least
audio-stream
it. At least
the Free
UN Coalition
for Access
had and has
such an
expectation.
But
it did not
happen. Only
second and
third hand did
Bathily's bon
mots come out,
including that
the UN is not
there to
impose its
views but to
facilitate. So
it has said
nothing about
the third term
-- and, Inner
City Press
understands,
favors the
opposition
just accepting
the third
term.
Why
wasn't the
Bujumbura
press
conference at
least
Periscoped, or
audio
streamed?
We'll have
more on this.
The
Security
Council on
June 26 agreed
to and adopted
a version of
France's draft
Presidential
Statement
which Inner
City Press
exclusively
published
earlier this
week; then
Burundi's
representative
gave a speech
vowing
elections will
take place on
June 29 and to
avoid the
situations of
Burkina Faso
and Cote
d'Ivoire, and
saying that
opposition is
"childlike"
with demands
from "outside
the
Continent."
Here is the
UNSC
Presidential
Statement:
"The
Security
Council
reiterates its
deep concern
regarding the
grave security
and political
situation in
Burundi
against the
backdrop of
the
forthcoming,
communal,
presidential
and senatorial
elections and
for the impact
of the crisis
in the region.
The Security
Council
strongly
condemns all
acts of
violence and
human rights
violations and
abuses and
recalls that
those
responsible
for such
violence
should be held
accountable
and brought to
justice.
The
Security
Council
welcomes the
regional and
sub-regional
efforts aimed
at addressing
the crisis,
and in this
regard takes
note of the
conclusions of
the East
African
Community
(EAC) summits
held on 13 May
and 31 May
2015 in
Dar-es-Salaam,
of the
communiquÿ
issued by the
African Union
Peace and
Security
Council (AU
PSC) after its
Summit held on
13 June 2015
in
Johannesburg,
South Africa,
and of the
letters sent
by the
Government of
Burundi to the
Security
Council.
The
Security
Council pays
tribute to the
relentless
efforts of the
Special Envoy
of the
Secretary-General
(SESG) for the
Great Lakes
Region, Safd
Djinnit and
recalls that
Burundian
stakeholders
had made some
progress in a
difficult
dialogue
thanks to SESG
Djinnit's able
facilitation,
The
Security
Council takes
note of the
African
Union's
statement that
the political
dialogue has
not produced
expected
results and
that the
current
situation
could
jeopardize the
important
gains recorded
following the
signing of the
Arusha
Agreement for
Peace and
Reconciliation
in Burundi and
the Global
Ceasefire
agreement of
2003, and
affect the
stability of
the region,
The
Security
Council
welcomes the
resumption of
the dialogue
between all
the Burundian
parties, under
the
facilitation
of the AU, the
UN, the EAC
and the ICGLR.
In this
regard, the
Security
Council
welcomes the
appointment of
Professor
Ibrahima Fall
by the AU,
Special
Representative
of the
chairperson of
the Commission
for the Great
Lakes Head of
the AU Liaison
office in
Bujumbura. The
Security
Council also
welcomes the
arrival in
Bujumbura of
United Nations
SRSG for
Central Africa
and Head of
UNOCA,
Abdoulaye
Bathily, which
allows for the
international
mediation to
immediately
assist all
parties to
expedite the
search for a
consensual
political
solution to
the crisis.
While
acknowledging
that further
steps must
continue to be
taken by
parties to
adhere to the
decisions
taken by the
EAC and the AU
PSC, the
Council calls
on the
Burundian
parties to
urgently
participate in
an inclusive
dialogue which
should focus,
in the spirit
of the Arusha
Agreements,
and the
Constitution,
on the
measures to be
taken to
create
conditions
conducive to
the
organization
of free, fair,
transparent
and credible
elections.
The
Council takes
note of the
statement in
the AU PSC
Communique of
13 June that
the date of
the election
should be set
by consensus
between the
Burundian
parties, in
the spirit of
the EAC's
communiqu6 of
32 May 2025
requesting a
postponement
of the
elections, and
on the basis
of a technical
assessment to
be undertaken
by the United
Nations.
The
Security
Council
emphasizes
that the
dialogue
should address
all matters on
which the
parties
disagree. The
Security
Council
further
emphasizes
that this
dialogue
should address
concerns
related to the
reinstatement
of private
media; the
protection of
human rights
and
fundamental
freedoms, in
particular
freedoms of
expression and
of peaceful
assembly,
including for
members of the
political
opposition to
campaign
freely, as
guaranteed by
the
Constitution
of Burundi;
the release of
those
arbitrarily
detained
following
demonstrations;
the respect
for the rule
of the law;
and the urgent
disarmament of
all armed
youth groups
allied with
political
parties, as
reflected in
the conditions
of the EAC
communique of
31 May 2025,
conditions to
be met prior
to the holding
of elections.
The
Security
Council
welcomes the
commitment of
the AU and the
Chairperson of
the AU
Commission to
fully assume
the
responsibilities
stemming from
its role as
Guarantor of
the Arusha
Agreement, as
well as that
of the region
not to
stand-by in
case the
situation
deteriorates.
In
this regard,
the Security
Council
welcomes the
decision of
the AU to
immediately
deploy human
rights
observers and
other civilian
personnel; to
deploy AU
military
experts to
verify the
process of
disarming of
all armed
youth groups
allied with
political
parties, which
will submit
regular
reports on the
implementation
of the
disarmament
process, and
to deploy an
AU election
observer
mission if
conditions for
the
organization
of free, fair,
transparent
and credible
elections are
met. The
Council urges
the Government
of Burundi and
other relevant
actors to
extend their
full
cooperation to
these
processes.
The
Security
Council also
welcomes the
AU PSC's
decision to
send, by the
first week of
July, a
ministerial
delegation
including the
Commission, to
assess the
implementation
of the
conditions
required by
EAC, the AU
and the
Council for
the holding of
the elections.
The
Council calls
on the
Electoral
Mission of the
United Nations
in Burundi
(MENUB) to
fully and
actively
pursue the
implementation
of its mandate
in accordance
with
Resolution
2137 (2014)
including to
swiftly report
to the
Security
Council
before, during
and after the
elections.
The
Security
Council
reiterates its
concern about
the difficult
situation of
the Burundian
refugees who
fled their
country into
the
neighboring
States,
commends the
host countries
(Democratic
Republic of
Congo, Rwanda
and Tanzania),
as well as
humanitarian
agencies, for
their support
to the
affected
populations,
and calls upon
the
international
community to
provide the
necessary
humanitarian
assistance.
The Council
urges the
Government of
Burundi to
create the
conditions
conducive to
their early
return.
The
Security
Council calls
on all actors
in the region
the preserve
the safety and
security of
populations in
the region."
On
June 25 at the
UN Inner City
Press asked UN
deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq:
Inner
City Press: I
wanted to ask,
about Burundi,
one of the
Vice-Presidents,
Gervais
Rufyikiri, has
fled the
country, and
he said that
after he came
out in
opposition to
the current
President
running for a
third term, he
left in fear
of his life to
Belgium.
So I wanted
know, that
seems pretty…
he’s an
elected
official,
etc.
One, is the UN
doing anything
to provide
protection to
people that
feel under
such threats
within the
country or
trying to
arrange for
it? And
what’s the UN
— how does
this reflect
on the
dialogue the
UN is trying
to create?
Question:
Well, first of
all, regarding
the
Vice-President,
you’ll have
seen, of
course, there
have been
other people
who have also
fled the
country, and
you’ll have
seen the
concerns we
expressed at
the time and
those concerns
remain the
case. We
want all the
people of
Burundi to be
able to live
without fear
and we want,
in particular,
for the people
who are going
to be voting
in any
forthcoming
elections to
be able to do
so without
fear and to
have the
assurance that
any elections
will be free
and inclusive.
Regarding the
dialogue on
Burundi, that
dialogue,
which resumed
on 23 June,
has, in fact,
continued
today with the
Special
Representative
Abdoulaye
Bathily’s
participation.
Meanwhile, in
New York, the
Under-Secretary-General
for Political
Affairs,
Jeffrey
Feltman, met
this morning
with the
Permanent
Representative
of Burundi to
discuss the
state of the
electoral
process.
And what is
coming of
these quiet UN
moves?
On
June 24 at the
UN in New York
Inner City
Press asked
Stephane
Dujarric,
spokesman for
the UN and
presumably for
UN envoy
Bathily, video
here:
Inner
City Press: on
Burundi, I
wanted to ask,
there was —
yesterday it
was said that
the ruling
party of
Burundi would
not take part
in these most
recent talks
with Mr.
[Abdoulaye)]
Bathily.
Now it's said
that the
Government is
but the ruling
party
isn't.
What's the
status of
those talks
and the
CNDD-FDD?
And also it
was reported
that
journalists
were blocked
from going to
this Musaga
area where a
lot of
crackdown is
taking
place.
Is Mr. Bathily
aware of that,
and does he
have any
comment on it?
Spokesman:
I don't know
if he's aware
of that.
We will
check.
Mr. Bathily is
just starting
his
work.
He's having
discussions
with various
parties.
I think it's
still a very
fluid
situation, as
we all know,
but he is
continuing —
he's
continuing his
work.
Question:
But, I mean,
I'm sure
you've seen
the — like,
yesterday they
had an
event, and [UN
PBC chair
Seger]
said that he
spoke with the
ambassador
here. So
it seems to me
that the
Secretariat is
aware of the
ruling party's
position to
not take part
in…
Spokesman:
No, I
understand.
But I think
those things
are being
discussed
locally.
They're being
discussed on
the ground, I
think on, more
than on a
daily basis,
so I don't
want to speak
for Mr.
Bathily at
this point.
"On
your question
on Burundi, I
was just
handed an
update which
says that the
political
dialogue
resumed on 23
June, which,
by my
calendar, is
yesterday, and
continued
today with the
facilitation
of the African
Union, the
East African
Community, the
International
Conference of
the Great
Lakes Region
and the United
Nations.
The Special
Representative
of the
Secretary-General,
Mr. Bathily,
is
representing
the UN in the
dialogue.
Participants
who
participate in
the dialogue
previously
facilitated
attended the
meetings with
the exception
of the ruling
party, the
CNDD-FDD, its
allies in the
Copa and
Sangwe
Pader.
Today the
Minister of
the Interior
represented
the Government
at the
meeting.
We encourage
all political
parties that
have yet to
join the
dialogue to
join it and
help reach
consensus on
the way
forward."
In New York,
the
International
Peace
Institute set
up for June 23
an event with
two UN
officials on
“lessons
learned” from
Burundi. Inner
City Press
went to the
event, YouTube
here.
At IPI, Inner
City Press
asked why the
UN was so
reticent to
discuss the
Constitutionality
of the third
term, why it
had stayed
quiet on the
arming of the
ruling party's
youth wing
and, at the
level of Ban
Ki-moon, on
the closing of
radio stations
and chasing
out of the
country of
journalists.
Inner City
Press also
asked why the
UN
Peacekeeping
of Herve
Ladsous keeps
using Burundi
security
forces who
have cracked
down on
unarmed
civilians.
Parfait
Onanga-Anyanga,
Former Special
Representative
of the UN
Secretary-General
in Burundi,
gave a lengthy
and passionate
answer.
The IPI event
ended up being
interesting
and Inner City
Press is glad
it went, and
that is has
been told,
from high up,
that this will
continue in
the future.
We'll see.
While
UN Deputy
Secretary
General Jan
Eliasson was
at the African
Union summit
in
Johannesburg
where Burundi
was discussed,
Burundian
independent
media wrote to
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon about
the crackdown
against them,
sending to a
copy to Inner
City Press and
the Free
UN Coalition
for Access,
which is now online
here.
On
June 16, after
first
declining to
confirm
receipt, the
UN said the
letter was
received or
"logged in."
But what will
be done? FUNCA
has asked
again, after
Ban's own
security
detail was
used to eject
Inner City
Press from a
speech by Ban
to UN
Peacekeeping,
which
continues to
use security
personnel of
Burundi which
have fired on
unarmed
demonstrators.
On
June 21, Ban
issued this
statement -
Bathily to
Bujumbura - no
word on the
third term,
much less
freedom of
press and
assembly:
"The
Secretary-General
continues to
follow with
concern the
political
crisis in
Burundi, which
threatens to
undo more than
a decade of
work to
consolidate
peace and
reconciliation
in the
country. In
this respect,
he welcomes
the communiqué
of the meeting
of the African
Union Peace
and Security
Council held
on 13 June at
the level of
Heads of State
and
Government.
With the
communiqué,
the African
Union provided
a clear way
forward
towards
peaceful and
credible
elections in
Burundi.
"The
Secretary-General
has requested
his Special
Representative
and Head of
the UN
Regional
Office for
Central
Africa,
Abdoulaye
Bathily, to
offer good
offices in
Burundi in
support of
regional
efforts to
reduce
tensions and
help
Burundians
peacefully
settle their
differences.
Special
Representative
Bathily will
work closely
with the
African Union,
the East
African
Community and
the
International
Conference for
the Great
Lakes
Region.
He will arrive
in Bujumbura
on Sunday, 21
June.
"The
Secretary-General
wishes to
express deep
gratitude to
his Special
Envoy for the
Great Lakes
Region, Said
Djinnit, for
his tireless
efforts
impartially
facilitating
the dialogue
among
Burundian
stakeholders
during May and
June of this
year.
"As
elections draw
near, the
Secretary-General
calls on all
Burundian
political
leaders to
address the
current
political
crisis with
the highest
sense of
responsibility.
He urges them
to resume
political
dialogue
earnestly with
a view to
creating an
environment
conducive for
peaceful,
credible and
inclusive
elections."
On
June 18, Inner
City Press
asked UN
deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq:
Inner
City Press: in
Burundi, today
there was a
grenade attack
in the capital
that injured
three and also
a deadly
grenade
attack, I
believe,
yesterday.
And I'm
wondering it
doesn't seem
like things
are whatever
the UNOCA
[United
Nations Office
in Central
Africa]
individual is
doing… calming
down.
So, I'm just
wondering is
there any…
what is the
UN, what is
the current
status of the
UN and other
efforts to
bridge the gap
prior to an
election that
will have the
current
president on
the ballot?
Deputy
Spokesman:
We are
continuing
with our
efforts.
As you know,
our
representative
from the UN
Office from
Central
Africa,
Abdoulaye
Bathily, is in
touch with the
various
parties and he
is continuing
with these
efforts.
We are
concerned
about the
violence,
including the
various
incidents that
you just
mentioned, and
we are worried
about the
situation on
the ground,
which is why
we are
continuing to
work with the
parties and
see what can
be done to
make sure that
if elections
are held that
they will be
safe, that
they will be
inclusive,
that people
can vote
without fear
and that the
elections will
be fair.
But does that
assume a run
for a third
term, and
therefor a
boycott of the
parliamentary
elections -- a
set up for
domination and
even (further)
constitutional
change?
In a
June 19 statement,
the UN's
expert on
transitional
justice Pablo
de Greiff said
Burundi's
"authorities’
blatant
failures to
respect
freedom of
expression and
peaceful
assembly, the
pre-conditions
for any
credible
democratic
society.”
Again it seems
the proposed
third term was
not directly
addressed by
the UN.
On
June 20 former
head of UN
Peacekeeping,
now Crisis
Group director
Jean Marie
Guehenno
tweeted about
de Grieff's
statement.
Inner City
Press
retweeted
Guehenno's
statement,
asked about
the continued
use of
Burundian
security
personnel by
Guehenno's
successor
Herve Ladsous.
Then
Guehenno's
tweet
disappeared,
so far without
explanation.
On June 16,
Inner City
Press asked
about reports
of the arrest
and even
torture of MSD
leader
Leonidas
Nimpagaritse.
UN Deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq
said "we'll
check;" Inner
City Press
asked what the
UN's electoral
mission is
doing and it
remains
UNclear.
As lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
answered Inner
City Press on
June 15, Haq
said that
UNOCA chief
Bathily is in
a sense
replacing Said
Djinnit for
the UN on
Burundi, to
coordinate
with the
African Union.
Transcript:
Inner
City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you two things
on
Burundi.
One is you had
said that the
DSG and Mr.
[Said] Djinnit
would be in
the [AU]
summit.
Do you have…
what was the
term, what, if
any, progress
was made
particularly
on UN
involvement in
either
replacing Mr.
Djinnit or
trying to
address the
ongoing
disquiet
there?
And also there
was a letter
of five or
more Burundi
media that was
directed to
the
Secretary-General
on June
11th. I
saw a copy was
sent to Ms.
[Susanna]
Malcorra
basically
asking for the
UN to get
involved
because they
had to flee
the country
because their
stations had
been burned
and closed and
they have been
threatened
with violence
by the
Government.
What is the
response of
the UN system?
Spokesman:
I will take a
look to see if
we received
that
letter.
On Burundi,
the
Secretary-General
requested his
special
representative
and Head of UN
Mission in
Central
Africa,
Abdoulaye
Bathily, to
carry out
consultations
to ensure the
effective
participation
of the UN in
the
international
facilitation
called for by
the African
Union Peace
and Security
Council to
quote “to
create
conditions
conducive to
the holding of
free,
transparent
and credible
elections in
Burundi, as
well as on the
matters on
which the
parties
disagree” —
which is what
the African
Union Peace
and Security
Committee
issued.
But when Inner
City Press
asked Haq for
the UN's view
of the AU
sending
(military?)
observers to
Burundi, Haq
did not
comment. So
what of
Nimpagaritse?
Ban's UN has
said little
amid the
closing down
of independent
media in
Burundi, other
than
generalities
when FUNCA and
Inner City
Press have
asked about
it. Now what
will they do?
The
letter is from
Bob Rugurika
of Radio
Publique
Africaine,
Patrick
Nduwimana of
Radio Bonesha
FM, Anne
Niyuhire of
Radio
Isanganiro,
Innocent
Muhozi of
Radi-Tele
Renaissance,
Alexandre
Niyungeko of
UBJ and the
Association
Burundaise de
radiodiffuseires,
here.
On
June 12 Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric:
Inner
City Press: In
Burundi,
documents
emerged, a
ruling, legal
opinion by the
ministers of
justice of the
East African
Community
states, and
they read very
closely the
constitution
and the Arusha
declaration
and they say
that a third
term would be
illegal, that
he’s not
eligible, that
it's clear the
first term was
under the
Constitution.
I'm wondering,
one, is there
any response
by the
Secretariat,
that it's been
sort of not
addressing
this
question?
And was Mr.
Djinnit aware
of this ruling
during the
time of this
facilitation?
And if so, why
didn't it
speak more
clearly on the
subject?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
I think that
Mr. Djinnit is
one of our
more
experienced
diplomats,
experienced
negotiator,
mediator.
I'm sure he
was aware of
everything he
needed to be
aware
of. I
don't have a
response to
that....
Inner
City
Press:
Is the DSG
[Deputy
Secretary-General]
aware of this
document as he
goes to the
African Union
Summit…?
Spokesman:
I think the
DSG is fully
aware of the
situation in
Burundi and
would be
looking
forward to his
discussion
with Mr.
Djinnit.
We'll see.
Two
days after
civil society
groups in
Burundi wrote
to UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon
how his envoy
Said Djinnit
should be
removed from
the role,
here, on June
10 Djinnit
issued a press
statement
"taking note"
of this
position - and
stepping down
or back.
On June 11
Inner City
Press asked UN
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric whose
decision the
resignation
was --
Djinnit's, he
said -- and if
the UN is
going to try
to replace him
as
facilitator.
Dujarric said
that UN Deputy
Secretary
General Jan
Eliasson is
headed to the
African Union
meeting in
South Africa
on June 14,
along with
Djinnit, and
will be
holding
discussion
including on
Burundi there.
Dujarric
mentioned it
is a question
of which
organization a
facilitator
should
represented.
Inner City
Press has
received a
copy of the
same civil
society
groups' which
requested that
Djinnit step
down new
letter to the
East African
Community for
an emergency
summit.
Inner City
Press for the
Free UN
Coalition for
Access asked
Dujarric about
the spokesman
for the police
and security
ministry
blaming
ongoing
demonstrations
on
journalists,
at least 50 of
whom have
already fled
the country.
Back on June
10, Inner City
Press and the
Free
UN Coalition
for Access
had asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
the Nkurunziza
government's
order banning
entry into the
studios of
five radio and
TV stations. Video here. Djinnit's statement
claims there
was consensus
on May 28 on
re-opening
these:
"commended
the Burundian
parties, in
particular,
for the set of
recommendations
adopted by
consensus at
the May 28
dialogue
session, on
the right to
information
and the
reopening of
private radio
and television
stations
damaged during
the May 13-14
events."
The
Special Envoy
of the
Secretary
General for
the Great
Lakes Region,
Said Djinnit,
and members of
the
facilitation
team that
joined and
supported the
dialogue
between the
Burundian
parties, met
today in
Bujumbura with
members of the
diplomatic
corps. During
this meeting,
the Special
Envoy briefed
the
participants
on the
dialogue who
[sic] he
facilitated
starting from
5 May 2015, at
the request of
the Burundian
parties who
had agreed, by
themselves, on
the agenda as
well as the
list of
participants.
The
Special Envoy
recalled that
during the
dialogue, the
parties
maintained
diverging
views on the
candidature of
President
Nkurunziza for
a third term.
He highlighted
the progress
made on the
four agenda
items, namely:
the
appeasement
measures and
mutual
commitments;
the management
of the
electoral
calendar;
guarantees for
the holding of
free,
transparent,
inclusive and
peaceful
elections; and
protection of
Constitutional
rights and
freedoms. The
conclusions of
the dialogue
are reflected
in the
attached May
29 press
communique.
The
Special Envoy
commended the
Burundian
parties, in
particular,
for the set of
recommendations
adopted by
consensus at
the May 28
dialogue
session, on
the right to
information
and the
reopening of
private radio
and television
stations
damaged during
the May 13-14
events. He
encourages the
parties to
implement
these
recommendations
without delay.
The
Special Envoy
takes this
opportunity to
thanks all the
Burundian
parties for
their
cooperation
during the
dialogue that
he facilitated
with
impartiality
and, on which
he reported
faithfully to
the Emergency
Summit of the
East African
Community
which took
place in
Dar-es-Salaam
on May 31, and
the relevant
UN organs. The
Special Envoy
expresses his
deep gratitude
for the
support
extended to
him in his
role as
facilitator by
the East
African
Community, the
International
Conference for
the Great
Lakes region,
the African
Union and the
UN including
the Secretary
General, the
Security
Council and
the Peace
Building
Commission. He
also thanks
the external
partners of
Burundi
including the
European
Union, the
United States,
France,
Belgium and
many others
who came forth
to help during
the dialogue
process.
Mr.
Said Djinnit
thanks all the
Burundian
parties for
the
facilitation
role they
entrusted to
him on May 5.
He duly takes
note of the
position
expressed a
few days ago,
on his role as
facilitator by
some Burundian
parties.
In his
capacity as
the UN
Secretary
General's
Special Envoy
for the Great
Lakes Region,
Mr. Djinnit
remains
committed, in
collaboration
with relevant
regional
organizations,
to continue to
work toward
preserving and
consolidating
peace,
democracy and
stability in
Burundi in
accordance
with the
objectives of
the Peace,
Security and
Cooperation
Framework for
the Democratic
Republic of
the Congo and
the region,
signed in
Addis Ababa on
February 24,
2013.
The
Special Envoy
encourages the
Burundian
parties to
continue their
dialogue with
a view to
create
conditions
conducive to
holding free,
fair,
inclusive and
peaceful
elections. He
stresses the
importance of
preserving the
legacy of teh
Arusha Peace
and
Reconciliation
Agreement as
enshrined in
the
Constitution.
He reiterates
his appeal to
all parties to
exercise
restraint and
to refrain
from any acts
likely to
increase
tension and
violence.
After the UN
Security
Council, the United States
and the UN
Peacebuilding
Configuration
on Burundi on
May 15 issued
statements
urging calm in
the country
given the
return of
Pierre
Nkurunziza to
presumably run
for a third
term, on May
29 Inner City
Press asked UN
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
UN
Peacekeeping
under Herve
Ladsous
accepting an
allegedly
abusive
Burundian
police officer
Godefroid
Bizmama into
his MINUSMA
mission in
Mali. Video
here, and
embedded
below.
On June 9,
Inner City
Press asked
Dujarric about
civil society
opposition to
the electoral
commission
proposing
presidential
polls for July
15, including
it seems for a
possible third
term. What
does UN envoy
Said Djinnit
think of a
third term? Video here.
Dujarric again
refused to
answer
directly,
while calling
on Burundians
to follow
Djinnit.
Follow him
where?
Inner City
Press asked
about Italy
suspending
inclusion of
Burundian
forces in its
training
program, see
below: Inner
City Press has
learned that
Jérôme
NTIBIBOGORA
was rejected
by vetting
even in 2014.
Dujarric
replied that
this is up to
the Italian
government.
But what is
the UN doing,
including with
respect to
1000 Burundian
police slated
to begin
"peacekeeping"
in Somalia on
June 11? We'll
see.
Amid calls to
replace UN
enovy Said
Djinnit as
"pro-Nkurunziza,"
which Inner
City Press has
asked the UN
about, on June
8 another
letter went
in, signed by
Vital
Nshimirimana.
Inner City
Press is
putting it online
here (it
is in French,
and translated
by the Free UN
Coalition for
Access here);
it explains
the demand
that Djinnit
be replaced.
Some note that
Ban Ki-moon,
now on travel
in Central
Asia but still
quiet on human
rights there
too, gave in
to requests to
replace his
Yemen mediator
Jamal Benomar
and ask, why
not here? But
those requests
were from
Saudi Arabia.
Watch this
site.
On June 8,
Inner City
Press asked
Maman S.
Sidikou,
Special
Representative
of the
Chairperson of
the AU
Commission for
Somalia, about
Burundian
forces serving
in AMISOM.
Sidikou
replied that
their "morale"
remains high,
and that one
thousand are
coming into
Somalia from
June 11 to 18.
So is there no
human rights
due diligence
for this?
The UN claims
due diligence
but gives no
details at
all. On June 8
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric:
Inner
City Press: On
Burundi, I
asked you
before about
Godefroid
Bizimana.
Now I'm going
to ask about
Jérôme
Ntibibogora,
who is a
Burundian
police officer
who, civil
society there,
say was
involved in an
attack against
a hospital and
firing at
protesters.
He's set for
deployment in
the Central
African
Republic after
being trained
by an Italian
centre known
as CoESPU, a
Centre of
Excellence for
Stability
Police Units.
Spokesman
Dujarric:
As much as I
have
everybody's
files and
names under my
fingertips, I
will check…
Inner City
Press: I've
actually heard
from the
Italian
mission that
they've put
some of their
training on
hold, but
likewise has
the UN put
anything on
hold of
deployment of
police
officers from
Burundi?
Spokesman:
I think we'll…
you know,
there is a
Human Rights
Due Diligence
Policy and
people are
being
screened.
Inner City
Press:
But, Godefroid
seems to…
Spokesman:
Has he been
appointed?
Inner City
Press: That's
why I'm asking
[about Jérôme]..
Early on June
8, based on
more
information
from Inner
City Press'
sources in
Burundi, Inner
City Press
asked Italy's
Mission to the
UN:
"In
covering the
crisis in
Burundi,
multiple
sources there
have informed
Inner City
Press that a
Burundian
police officer
named Jérôme
NTIBIBOGORA,
implicated in
the crackdown
in Bujumbura,
is now set to
be deployed to
the UN
Peacekeeping
mission in the
Central
African
Republic,
MINUSCA -- but
only after he
is “trained”
by / in Italy.
"This a Press
request for
your Mission
to confirm or
deny that
Jérôme
NTIBIBOGORA /
NTIBIBOGORA
Jérôme or any
other
Burundian
police or
military
personnel
involved in
putting down
protests to
Pierre
Nkurunziza's
attempted
third term is
scheduled or
considered for
training or
any
preparatory
work in Italy
prior to a
deployment
with UN
Peacekeeping.
"For your
information in
responding on
deadline to
this, Inner
City Press'
sources in
Burundi said
that Jérôme
NTIBIBOGORA /
NTIBIBOGORA
Jérôme has so
far been
involved in at
least two
recent
troubling
incidents:
killings at
the hospital
of BUMEREC (in
Bujumbura) on
May 14, 2015
and firing
live
ammunition at
unarmed
protesters on
June 5, 2015,
resulting in
the death of a
protester
named Theogène
who was a
student at
University of
Burundi.
Overall, what
due diligence
does Italy do
in its work
with UN
Peacekeeping?"
The UN Mission
of Italy,
running for a
seat on the UN
Security
Council
against Sweden
and the
Netherlands,
answered also
on the morning
of June 8:
"Dear
Mr. Lee, while
at this stage
I do not have
any
information on
specific
officers from
Burundi, I can
nevertheless
confirm that
any training
activity by
the COESPU
(Center of
Excellence for
Stability
Police Units)
in Vicenza,
Italy, with
officers from
that country,
is currently
on hold, due
to the ongoing
situation in
Burundi.
Giovanni
Davoli,
Spokesperson,
Italian
Mission to the
UN"
It's
appreciated.
But are there
Burundian
officers "in
the
pipeline"?
Inner City
Press asked:
"Does “on
hold” mean
there are no
Burundian
personnel in
the pipeline
of your
training
program, to be
deployed to
peacekeeping
missions? And,
once you check
in across the
Atlantic, can
the state the
status of any
of the
individual
named, and
describe
Italy's due
diligence
policy more
generally?"
Italian
Mission
spokesperson
Davoli
replied:
"Dear
Matthew, in
general,
single
participants,
before being
accepted into
the courses,
are screened
trough the
resources
available to
us and to our
partners in
COESPU, to
make sure they
are compatible
with the
values of the
Center.
On
this
particular
individual, we
are checking
with Italy if
we have any
record, which
means we won’t
get any more
details before
tomorrow. In
any instances,
the
participation
of officers
from this
particular
country is on
hold,
therefore
there is no
Burundian in
the pipeline,
until further
notice.
Giovanni
Davoli,
Spokesperson,
Italian
Mission to the
UN"
Inner City
Press renewed
its questions
on June 9, and
got this
reply:
"Dear
Matthew, I can
confirm that
Jérôme
NTIBIBOGORA
has never
attended nor
is expected to
attend courses
at CoESPU. His
candidature
was submitted
twice and
rejected twice
by COESPU.
On the first
occasion, in
2014, this
officer did
not pass the
vetting in
place for
these courses
(as per mail
yesterday); on
the second
occasion,
already in
2015, all
Burundi
candidatures
were already
on freeze.
Giovanni
Davoli,
Spokesperson,
Italian
Mission to the
UN"
, 
