YouSaid · the spoken record

Kafando

lines on the record: 833
first: 1999-02-22
most recent: 2019-10-30
sittings or episodes: 129
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Since taking up office, I have had the opportunity to report regularly to the Council on developments in the situation in Burundi. I appreciated members' comments, advice and encouragement. As I conclude my mandate, I would like to thank them in that regard and for their assistance and constant and comprehensive support. I thank the Secretary-General for the trust he has placed in me throughout my term. I thank Ambassador Jurg Lauber, Chair of the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission. I would like to thank all my colleagues, in particular the staff of the Office of the Special Envoy in Bujumbura and of the Department of Political Affairs and Peacebuilding here in New York. I thank the authorities and the people of Burundi.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“My Office in Bujumbura has established cooperative relationships with all parties concerned, particularly with representatives of the Government and of the international community and the main political actors. Within the joint technical working group set up to support the facilitator's efforts, my Office has provided significant technical, logistical and financial support, thereby contributing to the convening of several consultations, including plenary sessions of the dialogue, in Arusha and Entebbe. The multifaceted support of my Office and my personal engagement with the facilitator and the mediator have often helped to remove certain political and technical obstacles and made it possible to continue the peace process in Burundi.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“The hopes raised by that first meeting with the Head of State of Burundi, particularly on issues related to dialogue and cooperation with the United Nations, including the signing of the status-of-mission agreement, have unfortunately still not been fulfilled. During my periodic visits to Burundi, I had working sessions with the main political actors and leaders, both from the opposition and the ruling party. I also had meetings with representatives of civil society, of religious denominations and of women's and youth organizations and of course with accredited diplomats in the country. I met with members of CNARED in Brussels to persuade them to participate in the dialogue, which was the only way for them was to work on the renewal and reconstruction of their country.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“Since my appointment by the Secretary-General on 5 May 2017 as Special Envoy for Burundi, I have spared no effort to assist the facilitation and the region in completing the inter-Burundian dialogue process. In that regard, on several occasions, I made visits to the region and consulted key leaders, including the mediator and facilitator, as well as the Burundian stakeholders. On many occasions, I also met with the authorities of the African Union to raise their awareness and request their commitment to finding a consensus- based solution in Burundi. I also have approached some African Heads of State, always for the same purpose. In the two and a half years of my work, I was received once by President Pierre Nkurunziza. More exactly, it was the day after my appointment, on 27 June 2017.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“But my meeting with the mediator, scheduled by him originally for 19 July but which in the end took place in August, discouraged me from officially announcing my decision. Today, I confirm it. I can say that, while we did not manage to conclude the dialogue process in Burundi, the role of the United Nations is far from having been insignificant. We have indisputably helped to raise awareness among the leaders of the region that stability in Burundi is a crucial requirement for comprehensive peace in the region as a whole. With that important point that I have just made, namely, the United Nations ongoing commitment to Burundi, allow me to briefly describe, if only by way of accountability, the main activities undertaken under the mandate entrusted to me.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“In the context of that uncertainty, I have once again undertaken consultations with leaders of the region, starting with President Yoweri Museveni, the mediator, who met with me at his residence in Uganda on 23 August. During our talks, he unequivocally affirmed to me his willingness to continue the mediation together with President Kagame, Chair of the East African Community, as well as the other Heads of State of the region, but also with the support of the United Nations, whose continuing critical support he requests. Having completed those recent steps, it is the right time for me to conclude my mandate as Special Envoy for Burundi. In fact, last June I notified the Secretary- General of my intention to leave.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“The inter-Burundian dialogue under the auspices of the East African Community has still not taken place four years after it was launched, undoubtedly due to a lack of political will on the part of the parties as well as, it must be said, firm commitment by States of the subregion. However, the dialogue would have allowed for an inclusive new Burundi in the future, thereby avoiding the doubts and continual stumbling blocks that we have seen in the past. However, the twentieth Ordinary Summit of Heads of State of the East African Community, held in Arusha on 1 February, decided that the mediator would undertake further consultations in order to convene and conclude the dialogue. Unfortunately, nothing has changed.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“The fourth observation focuses on the security situation, which, it must be admitted, has improved throughout the country, although abuses and other human rights violations continue to be reported here and there. In any case, it is appropriate to encourage the Government to meet its obligations to guarantee at all costs the safety of all of its citizens and to put an end to impunity. The fifth, and last, observation is related to the humanitarian situation, which also remains a matter of concern. We must nevertheless welcome the voluntary return of thousands of refugees to the country, while ensuring that their return and reintegration are carried out with dignity.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“That initiative should be encouraged and supported, as should the life sentences given to four perpetrators of the 18 August murder in Muyinga of a member of the Congres national pour la liberte', as well as the ongoing discussions between the National Council for Respect for the Arusha Agreement and the Rule of Law (CNARED) and the Government with regard to the return of political leaders in exile. The second observation is about the electoral process, which, as Council members know, is managed by the Independent National Electoral Commission. It is hoped that process will be transparent. Poorly organized and contested elections, as we all know, are always a source of conflict. The third observation pertains to the socioeconomic situation. There is no need for an in-depth analysis: the situation continues to deteriorate.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“In the third part, I will make some recommendations on the need for the United Nations to maintain its presence in Burundi. With regard to observations from the report, I would like to note that, in many respects, the situation in Burundi remains tense. During the reporting period, an increase in the level of political intolerance and a growing threat to civil and political freedoms were observed. Fortunately, the Government responded by establishing a framework for political dialogue, bringing together political parties, local administrators and representatives of the security forces.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“I welcome the opportunity that you have granted me, Madam President, to brief the Security Council as it considers the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Burundi (S/2019/837). I would first like to congratulate you, Madam, on your country's assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of October and to convey greetings to the other members of the Council. Today's briefing is on the document entitled "Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Burundi", which was published on 24 October and has already been submitted for the Council's consideration. The first part of my briefing concerns some observations drawn from the report. The second part provides an update of my work on the inter-Burundian dialogue.”
2019-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8652 (2019) · source
“In that regard, ifit is their intention to adopt a press statement, I would like to suggest that Council members reiterate their encouragement for the efforts of the region and the full support of the Secretary-General for the mediation. It is vital that the mediation process ensure that the facilitator receives support and assistance in conducting his mission. Nonetheless, all such proposals for support must have only one objective, namely, that is for the inclusive inter-Burundian dialogue to remain the only viable option for a lasting settlement of the political crisis and the holding of elections in 2020, in a peaceful environment and in the letter and spirit of the Arusha Agreement.”
2019-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8465 (2019) · source
“Council members will recall that, in his most recent report to the Security Council (S/2018/1028), the Secretary-General proposed various options on the role of the United Nations in Burundi, in close consultation with international partners, and in particular with East African countries, including the country concerned, Burundi, not to mention the African Union, whose presence and participation in today's important meeting I welcome. A new deal was proposed by the EAC Summit and the Presidents of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda were appointed to conduct the mediation. I intend to contact them again to find out the details of their new approach. The aim will be to reassess together the ways and means of helping the region to assist Burundi effectively in resolving the current political crisis.”
2019-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8465 (2019) · source
“In addition to other agenda items, the Summit took note of the facilitator's final report on the inter-Burundian dialogue but decided that the leaders of the region would consult each other on it later. The facilitator, whom I met on 4 February, informed me that he had completed his facilitation work and that it was now up to the mediator to take over the process. He also confirmed that consultations were ongoing among the Heads of State of the subregion. Since the Ordinary Summit meeting of the East African Community Heads of State, Burundi has renewed its confidence in the mediator, who has already begun initial consultations with his peers in the subregion.”
2019-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8465 (2019) · source
“I then visited Kampala on 31 January for a working visit with President Museveni, mediator of the inter-Burundian dialogue. That meeting enabled me to reiterate to President Museveni the support of the Secretary-General, as well as that of the Security Council, for the inter-Burundian dialogue process led by the region. Above all, I noted his willingness and commitment to achieve inter-Burundian dialogue at all costs, as well as his determination to contribute to easing the crisis in Burundi and the tensions among the countries of the region. The day after my visit with President Museveni, on 1 February, the Arusha Summit opened, during which President Paul Kagame of Rwanda succeeded President Museveni as Chair of the East African Community.”
2019-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8465 (2019) · source
“I visited Burundi from 20 to 29 January with the intention of discussing with President Nkurunziza and Burundian officials the conclusions of the Security Council meeting held on 21 November 2018 and reaffirming, on the eve of the Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State, the support of the United Nations for the inter-Burundian dialogue process. Regrettably, such discussions could not take place. However, as I was in Bujumbura, I took the opportunity to interact with members of the international community and the diplomatic corps. My interlocutors welcomed the encouraging security developments in the country, despite the recurrence of violent border incidents reported by the media and some neighbouring countries.”
2019-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8465 (2019) · source
“It should be noted that that number is down from the 380,000 refugees reported in November. The Government of Burundi and the United Nations country team signed a $784.4 million cooperation agreement on 25 January as part of the United Nations development assistance framework for the period 2019- 2023, of which 46 per cent is immediately available, thereby cementing the continued support of the United Nations for the Government's priority programmes, which are outlined in its national development plan. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees launched a $296 million appeal on 9 February to assist refugees in camps in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2019-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8465 (2019) · source
“Opposition parties have reiterated their call for the African Union and the United Nations to take over the inter-Burundian dialogue process. The Office oftheUnitedNations HighCommissioner for Human Rights believes that the human rights situation remains worrisome, in the light of the reports it receives from Burundi. The humanitarian situation has improved since 2017, except in some parts of the country, in particular in the eastern and north-eastern border provinces. However, approximately 1.5 million people remain threatened by food insecurity due to persistent socioeconomic difficulties. According to United Nations estimates, as of 31 December 2018, there were 140,000 displaced persons and more than 347,000 Burundian refugees still living in neighbouring countries.”
2019-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8465 (2019) · source
“On the political front, on 22 December 2018, President Pierre Nkurunziza reiterated his decision not to seek another mandate in 2020. The new opposition party, the Congres national pour la liberte, whose request for official recognition was made by Mr. Agathon Rwasa on 14 September 2018, was finally approved by the Government on 14 February. That decision is a step in the right direction and could help open up the political space. I encourage the Government to continue in that direction and urge it to be more inclusive, in particular in the context of ongoing discussions on the adoption ofa new electoral code for the 2020 elections. The platform of the Conseil national pour le respect de l'Accord d'Arusha pour la paix et la reconciliation au Burundi et la restauration de l'etat de droit continues to be undermined by various defections.”
2019-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8465 (2019) · source
“I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to once again brief the Security Council on the situation in Burundi. Before doing so, allow me to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. My briefing will focus on the main developments in Burundi and in the region since my last briefing (see S/PV.8408), in particular the activities that I have carried out on behalf of the Secretary-General, as well as the prospects for resolving the political crisis, only 16 months before the holding of general elections, including the presidential election. Since my briefing last November, the situation in Burundi has been marked by the following major developments.”
2019-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8465 (2019) · source
“Based on that meeting's conclusions, and especially on its recommendations, the East African Community, the United Nations and the African Union must re-evaluate their commitment to helping Burundi emerge definitively from its crisis, especially in view of the elections scheduled for 2020. I would like to thank the Burundian authorities for the consideration shown to my Office and me, and to the United Nations family in Burundi in general.”
2018-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8408 (2018) · source
“In sum, the Secretary-General's report shows that the situation in Burundi remains fragile, partly because of the lack of an inclusive political dialogue, but also owing to its humanitarian, economic and financial problems and to security threats. After more than three years of tireless efforts through the inter-Burundian dialogue process, the United Nations, the African Union, the subregion and Burundi's partners must reassess the ways and means to help Burundi emerge from its current political crisis, and that assessment should naturally be initiated first and foremost by the Burundians themselves and then by the region. The Secretary- General welcomes the East African Community's forthcoming summit and fervently hopes that it will address the issue of Burundi.”
2018-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8408 (2018) · source
“The Secretary-General welcomes the steps that the Government and various international non- governmental organizations have taken to relaunch their cooperation, and we continue to encourage the Government to be flexible in that regard in order to ensure the welfare of its most vulnerable populations. Between January and October nearly 52,260 refugees returned to Burundi under the voluntary repatriation programme, particularly from Tanzania. There are still just over 380,000 Burundians in the region, 227,510 of them in Tanzania. In that regard, the Secretary-General encourages the Government to continue collaborating with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to ensure their voluntary repatriation and dignified return, and their reintegration into their communities of origin or host communities.”
2018-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8408 (2018) · source
“The democratic space continues to be constrained, except for some parties allied to the Government. With regard to the latest report of the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi (A/HRC/39/63), the Secretary-General deplores the unacceptable remarks made by the representatives of the Burundian Government about the report and its authors. The humanitarian situation remains worrying. An estimated 1.7 million people are threatened by food insecurity. I would also like to reiterate the Secretary-General's concerns about the ongoing deterioration of the country's socioeconomic situation and the food insecurity that is affecting many Burundians.”
2018-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8408 (2018) · source
“At the beginning of this month, however, the media reported deadly fighting in Uvira, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, between Burundi's national defence forces and the Resistance pour un etat de droit au Burundi-Tabara, an armed rebel group. Those incidents, which were confirmed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have resulted in several deaths. The Secretary-General notes in his report that the human rights situation in Burundi remains a matter of concern, pointing out that the Government has still not resumed its cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Violations of human rights and other abuses, such as arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances and other acts ofintimidation, continue to persist, as does hate speech, especially against opposition actors.”
2018-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8408 (2018) · source
“For various reasons, the participants adopted their own road map, thereby de facto rejecting that of the Government, adopted in August, particularly because of the lack of any prior consultations on it. Based on a synthesis of the various proposals, the facilitator and former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Benjamin Mkapa, submitted to the mediator a final report on the dialogue process that he had conducted. I would like to take this opportunity to once again pay tribute on behalf of the Secretary-General to the facilitator and mediator for their tireless commitment, despite the fact that it has not yet resulted in the conclusion of an agreement between the parties involved. The security situation in Burundi remained relatively calm during the period covered by the report.”
2018-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8408 (2018) · source
“The third was the European Union's renewal until October 2019 of its restrictive measures against a number of Burundian officials and officers for what are described as serious violations of human rights, as well as the obstruction of democracy and efforts to achieve peace. The last was the National Assembly of Burundi's renewal until 2022 of the mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission with the principal aim of examining acts of violence committed between 1885 and 2008. More fundamentally, the political situation has been largely dominated in the past few weeks by the holding of the fifth inter-Burundian dialogue session, unfortunately without the participation of the Government and the majority party and its allies.”
2018-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8408 (2018) · source
“Since the publication of the report, the political situation on the domestic front has been dominated by four major events. The first is that the Minister of the Interior, alleging the violation of certain provisions ofthe law by political parties, rejected a request by Agathon Rwasa, the leader of the opposition coalition, for the registration of the Front national de liberte/Amizero y'Abarundi party. The second was the appeal on 9 November to the African Union and the United Nations by the platform of the Conseil national pour le respect de l'Accord d'Arusha pour la paix et la reconciliation au Burundi et la restauration de l'etat de droit opposition party asking them to take charge of the inter-Burundian dialogue process, partly to prevent any resort to the use of weapons, which has been advocated by some members of the opposition.”
2018-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8408 (2018) · source
“At the outset, I would like to congratulate you, Sir, on your presidency of the Security Council for this month, and to assure you of my full support. The report that I have the honour of introducing on behalf of the Secretary-General (8/2018/1028) provides a review of the situation in Burundi, as well as my and my team's activities during the period from 10 August to 30 October. In the report's political sections, the Secretary-General takes stock of the tensions that are affecting the political stakeholders, and primarily the relations between the Government and the opposition. In particular, the report discusses the lack of trust and dialogue between the authorities and the opposition parties, which are nevertheless acknowledged to be essential to resolving the ongoing crisis.”
2018-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8408 (2018) · source
“My final request is that the Council reiterate its appeal to all actors in the Burundian crisis to participate sincerely and in good faith in the upcoming dialogue, which will be the fifth and probably the last of its kind, with the mediator, the facilitator and the African Union, which we are undertaking to convene in the very near future either in Entebbe or Arusha. Needless to say, the road map is already in place, the programme has been laid out and the Council would do well to launch an appeal so that this time we can make the long-sought dialogue a success.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“On that basis, and taking advantage of the de-escalation, it is to be enthusiastically hoped that Burundi and the European Union will soon resume talks with a view to resuming their cooperation. We are encouraging them ~ I was even going to say that we are pushing them - to that end, as we believe that sanctions are not always the ideal solution. I also call on the Burundian authorities to finalize discussions on the memorandum of understanding with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Burundi and finally agree to sign the headquarters agreement to allow my office in Bujumbura to operate properly and in better conditions.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“I note, among others, the delegations of the African Parliamentary Union, the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association, the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the International Organization of la Francophonie. Today, as we speak, Bujumbura is welcoming the Women's Forum for Peace and Security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Subregion, organized under the auspices of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region. I truly believe that such visits undoubtedly reflect the will of the Government of Burundi to improve its relations with the international community.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“There is therefore reason to commend the efforts of the Government and encourage it to remain vigilant. Similarly, with regard to the humanitarian situation, we must commend the efforts of Burundi and Tanzania, which, with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, since September 2017 have allowed the voluntary repatriation of approximately 35,000 Burundi refugees. Those efforts must continue to be pursued in accordance with the principle of voluntary repatriation, while ensuring the return and reintegration of returnees in host communities with respect and dignity. In terms of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, a number of high-level delegations from countries and international organizations have Visited Burundi recently.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“At the end of the discussions, the mediator and the facilitator reaffirmed to me their full commitment to relaunching the dialogue as soon as possible. In particular, the mediator committed to organizing an extraordinary summit of the East African Community on the subject. With regard to the same concerns, I am hoping to visit Burundi in October so as to undertake a certain number of activities and, of course, to commence talks with the Burundian authorities to see how we can pursue the process, alongside the facilitator and the mediator. During recent briefings on this issue, the Council has been informed of the steady improvement of the security situation in Burundi. The situation has remained calm since the constitutional referendum, notwithstanding several challenges on the part of the opposition.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“Moreover, the Government should take that initiative into account in the context of the intra-Burundian dialogue to ensure the greatest possible participation by all stakeholders. Since my previous briefing, on 24 May (see S/PV.8268), I visited the subregion as part of my mandate, in particular to meet the facilitator, President Benjamin Mkapa, in Dar es Salaam and the mediator, President Yoweri Museveni, in Kampala. I handed the mediator a written message from the Secretary-General and a memorandum containing specific proposals on both the dialogue process and the initiatives that certain guarantors of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement should undertake in order to reaffirm the paramount importance of that historic Agreement, which, as we know, represents the foundation for peace in that part of the African continent.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“In our efforts to help this brotherly country to definitively settle the crisis, those are two major acts whose importance we should underline and which provide us with an opportunity to move forward in resolving the Burundian situation once and for all. In particular, we believe that the Government and the Burundian political class should jointly take the opportunity of that new dynamic to work to create a new political environment conducive to strengthening national unity and peace. The political leaders' dialogue workshop, held on 3 August in Kayanza, in the Republic of Burundi, at the initiative of the Minister of the Interior, which resulted in the adoption of a road map for the 2020 elections, is part of that rationale and deserves our encouragement.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“At the outset, I would like to warmly congratulate you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to again brief the Security Council on the situation in Burundi. I would also like to commend all the other members of the Council for their ongoing commitment to international peace. On 7 June, following the constitutional referendum of 17 May, the Head of State of Burundi, President Pierre Nkurunziza, solemnly promulgated the new Constitution adopted by more than 73 per cent of the Burundian people. On the same occasion, he officially announced the end of his mandate in 2020 and his commitment to giving his full support to the new President to be elected.”
2018-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8325 (2018) · source
“I remain convinced that an inclusive dialogue remains the only path to a sustainable political settlement of the political, socioeconomic and humanitarian challenges Burundi has faced since 2015. Among those challenges is the preparation and success of inclusive, credible and transparent elections in 2020. In that regard, the Council could renew its full support to the region, in particular to the mediation led by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and to the facilitator, former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, with the support of the African Union and the United Nations.”
2018-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8268 (2018) · source
“The Summit also requested the facilitator to make every effort to convene the fifth session of the dialogue as soon as possible. In response to the facilitator's invitation of25 April, the Government of Burundi indicated that it would not take part in any dialogue session before the constitutional referendum was held. In that context, the Conseil national pour le respect de l'Accord d'Arusha pour la paix et la reconciliation au Burundi et la restauration de l'etat de droit questioned the appropriateness and relevance of a dialogue after a referendum that was supposed to bury the Arusha Agreement. Consultations should be held in the next few days with a view to relaunching the dialogue.”
2018-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8268 (2018) · source
“I welcome the efforts made by Burundi and Tanzania, with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and within the framework of the tripartite agreement, which have already enabled over 13,000 Burundians to voluntarily return to their homes. Those efforts must be continued. The situation I have just described highlights the relevance of continuing the inclusive dialogue under the auspices of the East African Community. Council members will recall that during the nineteenth summit of the East African Community, held in Uganda on 23 February, Heads of State of the subregion strongly recommended continued dialogue facilitated by former President Benjamin Mkapa and the mediation of President Museveni.”
2018-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8268 (2018) · source
“The Government should be encouraged to continue its efforts to restore security throughout the national territory. In that regard, I welcome the measures taken against certain forms of violence that were observed before and during the election campaign. The events that occurred on 11 May in the commune of Buganda, in the province of Cibitoke, which we condemned at the United Nations, during which 26 people, including women and children, were killed by unidentified armed men, reminds us that, even though there is general calm at the security level, the environment remains volatile. The humanitarian situation is undergoing significant developments, but it is still a cause for concern. Many Burundians continue to live in refugee camps, particularly in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2018-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8268 (2018) · source
“In that connection, I would like to draw the attention of Council members to the expulsion of human rights experts deployed in the framework of the implementation of Human Rights Council resolution 36/2, which the Group of African States in Geneva endorsed on 29 September. Their visas were cancelled by the Government on 26 April when they were already in Burundi. I call on the Burundian authorities to facilitate the return of those experts and to renew cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The security situation in Burundi is generally calm, although there have been isolated grenade attacks and there continue to be reports of the discovery of dead bodies, including individuals in military uniforms.”
2018-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8268 (2018) · source
“Now that the country is moving towards another important phase in its history, we expect a strong signal from the Burundian authorities in favour of resuming the inter-Burundian dialogue under the aegis of the East African Community. Reviving that dialogue would make it possible for Burundians to discuss together the challenges they face in a climate of mutual trust. It is important to reiterate at this point that it is only through an inclusive dialogue that Burundians will reach sustainable solutions to the current crisis. Without an inclusive dialogue, there is a risk that the opposition's contesting of the results of the referendum will further polarize an already tense political situation, characterised by human rights violations and other abuses, as well as the deterioration of the socioeconomic and humanitarian situation.”
2018-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8268 (2018) · source
“CENI itself also reported several incidents that, in its View, were not such to influence the definitive results of the voting. During my briefing on 25 February (see S/PV.8189), I shared the concerns of the Secretary- General, who had stressed in his report (S/2018/89) the need for the Government to seek the broadest consensus possible on an issue as crucial as amending the Constitution for the future - and the very fate - of Burundi. The Secretary-General underscored in his report the spirit of consensus that prevailed in the negotiations and the adoption of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi and the 2005 Constitution that resulted from it.”
2018-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8268 (2018) · source
“I thank you, Madam President, for giving me this opportunity to brief the Security Council on recent developments in Burundi. On 17 May, the people of Burundi voted in favour of a new Constitution. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), which announced provisional results on 21 May, of the 4,768,148 people who voted, 73.25 per cent voted in favour of the new Constitution, as opposed to the 19.34 per cent who voted against it. Blank ballots totalled 4.11 per cent, and abstentions 3.28 per cent, with a total voter participation of 96.24 per cent. Once again, I point out that information was provided by CENI. Overall, the referendum took place in a calm environment despite many irregularities and incidents reported by opposition and civil society representatives.”
2018-05-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8268 (2018) · source
“The sole objective guiding his actions was to sound the alarm bell so that the emerging future of the Burundian people can be enjoyed by all Burundians and thereby to avoid the endless reversals of which that country has suffered so much.”
2018-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8189 (2018) · source
“I note that in its communique on the report, dated 14 February, the Government of Burundi declares itself ready to spare no effort to cooperate with the United Nations in the context of respect of its sovereignty. In that regard, as Special Envoy I can attest to the fact that this good cooperation already exists between the Burundian authorities and the United Nations mission in Burundi. I thank them for their welcome and their full availability, although I would add that, contrary to certain statements, the Special Envoy's contribution to the Secretary-General's report has hardly exceeded his obligations, let alone guided by any partiality.”
2018-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8189 (2018) · source
“Now that, following its most recent summit, the region has decided to pursue the dialogue, it is up to the African Union, alongside the other partners, including the United Nations, to remain strongly committed to the outcome of mediation. For the United Nations, whose support for the process is intended above all to help bring the Burundians together in the hope of reaching a dynamic compromise, dialogue remains indispensable. I have just summarized very briefly the report of the Secretary-General on Burundi, submitted for the Council's consideration. Everything indicates that the country remains a subject of concern to the international community.”
2018-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8189 (2018) · source
“Power- sharing, good political governance, pluralist democracy based on the principle of broad consensus, and the protection of minority rights remain at the heart of the Arusha Agreement which, as we know, was the basis of the Burundian Constitution of 2005, which is currently under revision. All this could have been possible if political will had prevailed in the inter-Burundian dialogue, under the auspices of the East African region. That having been said, I take this opportunity to congratulate the mediator and facilitator of the Burundian dialogue on his efforts to find a just solution to the crisis.”
2018-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8189 (2018) · source
“History make it clear that the stability and development of Burundi over the past 15 years are essentially the result of the broad consensus that prevailed in the negotiation and adoption of the Arusha Agreement. Moreover, this recommendation on the part of the Secretary-General merely explains article 299 of the 2005 Burundian Constitution, which is still in force and which states that "[n]o revision procedure may be used ifit undermines national unity [or] the cohesion of the Burundian people". The United Nations, the African Union, the East African Community and the European Union are the guarantors of the Arusha Agreement, the quintessence of which is not limited to ethnic and gender balance, which is retained in the new Constitution.”
2018-02-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8189 (2018) · source