Key takeaways from the UN Peacebuilding Commission's meeting on Burundi (February)
The Briefing Issue #46, Tuesday, February 26, 2020
Dear Readers
This Tuesday, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held an ambassadorial-level meeting on Burundi chaired by Ambassador Jürg Lauber, Chair of the PBC Burundi Configuration.
The purpose of the meeting was to present the reports on Amb. Jürg Lauber's recent trip to Burundi and in the region. In his remarks, he lauded the "observer mission" organized by the East Africa Community.
Ambassador Jürg Lauber reported on multiple meetings he had with Burundi ministers and political party officials, as well as with civil society and major international lenders.
The topic of AU human rights and election monitors were raised. He cited displacements due to flooding caused by excessive rainfall. But noted encouraging evidence of cooperation between the government and development banks.
Burundi Ambassador’s brief
Burundi's Ambassador shared the positive development in Burundi noting that more women than men will be participating in elections.
He emphasized on the broad national support, including from religious leaders and returning political opposition leaders— to transparent and violence-free elections.
He assured that messages of "discipline and tolerance" are being spread to political followers.
East Africa Community (EAC) Secretary-General’s brief
The EAC SG, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko noted the impact of the 2018 Burundi constitution, which reminds that this presidential election will symbolize the first peaceful transition of power in the history of Burundi.
He cited EAC monitoring activities to help guarantee that Burundi elections will be fair and violence-free; this will include consultations with East African diplomats assigned to Burundi.
He lauded the levels of support and "goodwill" by stakeholders inside and outside the country and shared "high expectation" of these stakeholders that the EAC will be able to highly impact electoral credibility.
He urged more support for civil society organizations seeking to conduct voter education activities in the run-up to elections.
EAC seeks both a political & a technical mission to Burundi, but funding limitations impede this.
He noted that the EAC should already be on the ground in Burundi but funding limitations have made this impossible.
Discussions
Swiss expressed concerns regarding freedom of expression and assembly in Burundi. The need to ensure that all who seek to participate in upcoming elections can do so without intimidation or discrimination was highlighted. Swiss stressed the importance of national human rights institutions and recommended space for youth participation and women mediators in elections and national reconciliation.
Kenya lauded the high number of candidates for higher office in Burundi as well as unprecedented levels of women's participation in the political process.
Norway encouraged a "comprehensive" engagements by stakeholders and implored the government to ensure a "level playing field" for candidates and zero tolerance for incitement to violence or discrimination.
The Netherlands cited efforts to spur private-sector investment in Burundi—farmers as well as on security sector reform. On the human rights situation in Burundi, concerns over the lack of accountability for abuses were raised. The Netherlands seeks an Africa Union observer mission for Burundi elections as well as increased access and freedom of movement for civil society actors.
Italy asked for more clarity on the specific situation of political opposition in Burundi some of whom are reporting harassment and even arrests.
The United Kingdom reminded of the key role of peace to the successful implementation of development priorities. And shares concern regarding political opposition possibly being subjected to harassment and overt violence. The UK urges greater international support for the repatriation and reintegration of displaced persons seeking a return to Burundi, as well as for those who have not yet chosen to return.
The PBC meeting on Burundi was concluded noting that the gaps between what Burundi is sharing and what the configuration is seeing seem to be narrowing as elections approach, hence more scrutiny by the EAC and other African organizations is clearly warranted.
(The material used in this newsletter is inspired by notes taken from a live reporting on the (PBC) ambassadorial-level meeting on Burundi made by GAPW)
Fabrice Iranzi
The Founding Editor, RegionWeek
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