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| UN ramps up pressure on Burundian government with resolution on violence | UN ramps up pressure on Burundian government with resolution on violence |
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| The UN security council has unanimously voted to adopt a resolution condemning the killings, torture and human rights abuses plaguing Burundi amid fears that the language used by the government to describe its opponents is reminiscent of the rhetoric that paved the way for the Rwandan genocide. | The UN security council has unanimously voted to adopt a resolution condemning the killings, torture and human rights abuses plaguing Burundi amid fears that the language used by the government to describe its opponents is reminiscent of the rhetoric that paved the way for the Rwandan genocide. |
| Thursday’s resolution – which also includes the threat of possible sanctions against those responsible for the violence – comes as the UN and the African Union (AU) discuss whether to bring in peacekeepers who are currently deployed in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). | Thursday’s resolution – which also includes the threat of possible sanctions against those responsible for the violence – comes as the UN and the African Union (AU) discuss whether to bring in peacekeepers who are currently deployed in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). |
| Related: Burundi facing mass atrocities unless UN acts swiftly, experts warn | Related: Burundi facing mass atrocities unless UN acts swiftly, experts warn |
| It asks the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, to deploy a team to Burundi to work with the government, the AU and other partners to “develop options to address political and security concerns,” and to present these options to the council within 15 days on actions that could be taken to end the violence. | |
| Alain Aimé Nyamitwe, minister of foreign affairs, said he was pleased with the result: “The resolution is more balanced than the draft. We heard reference to some of the alarming paragraphs like sanctions and things of this sort but we believe the draft that has been finally adopted is more balanced. When you want to resolve a conflict, you don’t go down the route to taking sanctions as a first measure. | |
| “On the issue of dialogue, it is clear that this resolution has taken on board the need to recognise the EAC and Museveni’s role, and that the inter-Burundian dialogue commission needs to be encouraged because it’s a deeper process. They are saying yes for dialogue, but let’s make sure the inter-Burundian dialogue caters for those both inside and outside the country.” | |
| Asked whether Burundians need protection beyond what their government is currently providing, he said no, adding that the Security Council is not talking about deployments of peacekeepers. “I don’t think the resolution talks of any intervention. They’re talking about a contingency plan, which is a totally different thing [to a peacekeeping mission]. They are not saying they are going to generate troops – they are talking about contingency planning, in case the situation deteriorates.” | |
| According to the minister, the inter-Burundi dialogue commission will meet Friday in Bujumbura. | |
| At least 240 people have been killed in the central African country since protests began in April against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s ultimately successful quest for a third term. Some 200,000 are estimated to have fled to neighbouring states. | At least 240 people have been killed in the central African country since protests began in April against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s ultimately successful quest for a third term. Some 200,000 are estimated to have fled to neighbouring states. |
| Burundi ended a 12-year civil war in 2005, when Hutu rebels fought the army led by Tutsis, the same ethnic divide that led to Rwanda’s 1994 genocide in which 800,000 people were massacred. | Burundi ended a 12-year civil war in 2005, when Hutu rebels fought the army led by Tutsis, the same ethnic divide that led to Rwanda’s 1994 genocide in which 800,000 people were massacred. |
| The government has been critical of the international community for intervening in what it considers domestic affairs. “It’s neither for the UN, nor the EU, and even less so the AU, to decide in the place of the Burundians,” presidential spokesperson, Nyamitwe Willy, told AFP on Thursday, in response to the call from UN, AU, and EU officials to meet “urgently” to end the violence and find “a political solution”. | |
| Even in the downtown indoor market nicknamed ‘Chez CNDD-FDD’ for its strong ruling-party support base, late on Thursday there was not one person to be found who felt peacekeepers would be a bad idea. “It could provide a solution to the insecurity – because there is no security in Burundi today,” said one woman selling beauty products. “The situation is volatile, things can change very quickly. Having peacekeepers would be a good idea,” another, an apple seller, said. | |
| Statements last week by government officials echoing language used in the Rwandan genocide have raised alarms at the UN. On Tuesday, the UN high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, asked the security council to consider all possible options for preventing the violence, including asset freezes and travel bans. | Statements last week by government officials echoing language used in the Rwandan genocide have raised alarms at the UN. On Tuesday, the UN high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, asked the security council to consider all possible options for preventing the violence, including asset freezes and travel bans. |
| The commissioner said that describing political opponents as “enemies of the nation” and issuing orders for local authorities to identify and deal with “elements which are not in order” recalled the incendiary rhetoric heard two decades ago. | The commissioner said that describing political opponents as “enemies of the nation” and issuing orders for local authorities to identify and deal with “elements which are not in order” recalled the incendiary rhetoric heard two decades ago. |
| “Phrases such as these recall the language that this region has heard before, and should not be hearing again,” he said. “They could signal the imminence of much worse, and more widespread, violence.” | “Phrases such as these recall the language that this region has heard before, and should not be hearing again,” he said. “They could signal the imminence of much worse, and more widespread, violence.” |
| Related: A life of escaping conflict: 'I don't feel like a Burundian – I am a refugee' | Nicole Lee | Related: A life of escaping conflict: 'I don't feel like a Burundian – I am a refugee' | Nicole Lee |
| The mood in the capital, Bujumbura, is tense and fearful. Far from reassuring residents, the armed police deployed on every street are only increasing the anxiety felt by many people. | The mood in the capital, Bujumbura, is tense and fearful. Far from reassuring residents, the armed police deployed on every street are only increasing the anxiety felt by many people. |
| Last month, a taxi driver was shot dead for not stopping at a police roadblock – one of many such incidents recorded since April. | Last month, a taxi driver was shot dead for not stopping at a police roadblock – one of many such incidents recorded since April. |
| In Mutakura and Cibitoke, two neighbourhoods considered to support the opposition, a tiny percentage of residents remain – perhaps just 5%, according to the estimate of a solitary fruit vendor. | In Mutakura and Cibitoke, two neighbourhoods considered to support the opposition, a tiny percentage of residents remain – perhaps just 5%, according to the estimate of a solitary fruit vendor. |
| In neighbourhoods that are considered pro-government, meanwhile, houses are stuffed to the rafters because they are considered safer. | In neighbourhoods that are considered pro-government, meanwhile, houses are stuffed to the rafters because they are considered safer. |
| Residents say that neighbourhoods such as these are more secure, ironically, because of the presence of armed Imbonerakure, the much-feared, militant youth wing of Nkurunziza’s CNDD-FDD party. The Imbonerakure stand accused of gross human rights violations, including the intimidation and murder of opposition members. | Residents say that neighbourhoods such as these are more secure, ironically, because of the presence of armed Imbonerakure, the much-feared, militant youth wing of Nkurunziza’s CNDD-FDD party. The Imbonerakure stand accused of gross human rights violations, including the intimidation and murder of opposition members. |
| “It won’t do any good if they just come to shore up the president,” said Iradukunda, 22, a resident of Musaga, where the trenches, stone walls and sun-dried branches that people set up by to protect themselves from police and Imbonerakure still block access to some side-roads. | “It won’t do any good if they just come to shore up the president,” said Iradukunda, 22, a resident of Musaga, where the trenches, stone walls and sun-dried branches that people set up by to protect themselves from police and Imbonerakure still block access to some side-roads. |
| In early May, Iradukunda protested daily against the president on the streets of Musaga. Having survived arrest in the police crackdown that followed that month’s failed coup, he has dodged police and military ever since. | In early May, Iradukunda protested daily against the president on the streets of Musaga. Having survived arrest in the police crackdown that followed that month’s failed coup, he has dodged police and military ever since. |
| Two of his cousins were shot dead after they were arrested for taking part in the protests. | Two of his cousins were shot dead after they were arrested for taking part in the protests. |
| “The international community has to know that we have no problem with peacekeepers – we need them to come and protect us, but we also need them to help us kick out the president. If they only come to protect people, then they won’t be doing enough. We want another, well-organised election to select a new president,” he said. | “The international community has to know that we have no problem with peacekeepers – we need them to come and protect us, but we also need them to help us kick out the president. If they only come to protect people, then they won’t be doing enough. We want another, well-organised election to select a new president,” he said. |
| But one political analyst working for a European country in Bujumbura said that sending in peacekeepers could have a powerful effect on the security situation. | But one political analyst working for a European country in Bujumbura said that sending in peacekeepers could have a powerful effect on the security situation. |
| “If peacekeepers are deployed in opposition neighbourhoods to protect people against the police, there won’t be fighting. Dialogue will become possible,” said the analyst. | “If peacekeepers are deployed in opposition neighbourhoods to protect people against the police, there won’t be fighting. Dialogue will become possible,” said the analyst. |
| “[Nkurunziza] is waiting now to witness either weakness or strength – if there is a strong decision, he will have no choice, he will follow. But he knows China and Russia will be against it and veto it.” | “[Nkurunziza] is waiting now to witness either weakness or strength – if there is a strong decision, he will have no choice, he will follow. But he knows China and Russia will be against it and veto it.” |
| The analyst said the president was a shrewd man playing a clever game. “He is testing the international community. He knows they are not united in the UN. In Europe, they are more united, but in Africa they are not, and in Burundi there is no consensus.” | The analyst said the president was a shrewd man playing a clever game. “He is testing the international community. He knows they are not united in the UN. In Europe, they are more united, but in Africa they are not, and in Burundi there is no consensus.” |
| Nkurunziza, he added, was a fighter and a man used to violence because of his experiences in the country’s civil war. “His objective is to end his third term and to prepare his successor. He will kill people, but he will make sure that it’s not large scale. He knows he has support from African leaders because there are others in his position.” | Nkurunziza, he added, was a fighter and a man used to violence because of his experiences in the country’s civil war. “His objective is to end his third term and to prepare his successor. He will kill people, but he will make sure that it’s not large scale. He knows he has support from African leaders because there are others in his position.” |
| Britain’s UN ambassador Matthew Rycroft, the security council president, said members were meeting “to ensure that we are doing everything possible to increase the pressure on the authorities in Burundi to warn against the dangers of mass atrocities”. | Britain’s UN ambassador Matthew Rycroft, the security council president, said members were meeting “to ensure that we are doing everything possible to increase the pressure on the authorities in Burundi to warn against the dangers of mass atrocities”. |
| The deployment of peacekeepers from DRC is one of several possible strategies for halting the violence. | The deployment of peacekeepers from DRC is one of several possible strategies for halting the violence. |
| “One option is to get Monusco [The UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] troops from the DRC across the border into Burundi,” one security council diplomat told AFP. | “One option is to get Monusco [The UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] troops from the DRC across the border into Burundi,” one security council diplomat told AFP. |
| The 20,000-strong Monusco force in the DRC is backed up by a rapid reaction brigade made up of elite troops from South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania that could also be deployed, he said. | The 20,000-strong Monusco force in the DRC is backed up by a rapid reaction brigade made up of elite troops from South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania that could also be deployed, he said. |
| On Sunday, Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, also implored Burundi not to repeat the ethnic violence that his country endured 21 years ago. | On Sunday, Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, also implored Burundi not to repeat the ethnic violence that his country endured 21 years ago. |
| • This story was updated on 12 November 2015 when the resolution was passed. | • This story was updated on 12 November 2015 when the resolution was passed. |