Why the UN is concerned about Burundi 2020 Elections?
The Briefing Issue #56, Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Dear Readers,
This Wednesday several media outlets, and many online influencers shared the latest statement from the UN Commission of Inquiry that warns on the risk of atrocities in Burundi's upcoming elections.
According to the statement, during an oral briefing on 9 March to the UN Human Rights Council, the Commission concluded that the eight risk factors common to criminal atrocities (developed in 2014 by the UN Special Advisors on the Prevention of Genocide and on the Responsibility to Protect) applied to Burundi in the Commission's September 2019 report, are still present, and some even more marked than before, while a major round of local to presidential elections are just a few months ahead in Burundi.
The COIB noted a deterioration of the situation with regard to the risk factor on political, economic and security instability.
The Commission reiterated its warnings that the situation in Burundi continues to worsen – politically, economically as well as in terms of security.
Of particular concern are the Imbonerakure - members of a youth league linked to President Pierre Nkurunziza’s ruling party – and to multiple attacks against opposition politicians and their families.
They have continued to carry out “killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions, acts of torture and ill-treatment and rape against actual or alleged political opposition members”, the Commissioners warned.
READ ALSO: Burundi ‘no longer interested in responding to UN warnings of violence
Burundi’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Renovat Tabu, said the report is politicized and that it is regrettable. Tabu said his government is used to what he calls the commission’s smear campaigns. Since it was established in 2016, he said the commission’s reports have been full of lies, defamatory and insulting allegations.
He said Burundi is an open and peaceful society, noting that 10 candidates already have registered for the elections.
The Human Rights Council established the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi through resolution 33/24 of 30 September 2016. Its mandate was renewed three times, each time for one additional year by resolution 36/19 adopted on 4th October 2017, resolution 39/14 adopted on 28 September 2018 and resolution 42/26 adopted on 27 September 2019.
In its resolution 42/46, the Human Rights Council further asked the Commission of inquiry to deepen its investigations, including into respect for and observance of political, civil, economic and social rights in the electoral context, with particular reference to the economic underpinnings of the State
In the past, several commissions of inquiry set up by the Human Rights Council have included in their recommendations a request for the Security Council to take their conclusions into consideration. This was the case, for example, with the Commission of Inquiry on the human rights situation in North Korea in 2014 and the Commission of Inquiry on human rights in Eritrea in 2016.
Fabrice Iranzi
Founding Editor, RegionWeek.com
IN THE REGION
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