Press Statement on the situation in Burundi

1. On 9 March, the members of the Security Council met to discuss the situation
in Burundi.

2. The members of the Security Council took note of the report of the Secretary-
General (S/2017/165) and expressed their deep concern over the political
situation, the lack of progress in implementing resolution 2303 (2016) and the
lack of engagement by the government of Burundi in that regard. While noting
that the security situation in the country has remained generally calm, they were
alarmed by the increasing numbers of refugees leaving the country and
disturbed by reports of torture, forced disappearances, and killings.

3. The members of the Security Council commended regional efforts to help

Burundians find political solutions and reiterated their support to the facilitation
led by former President Benjamin Mkapa under the mediation of President
Museveni, in his capacity as Chair of EAC. The members of the Security Council
stressed that the EAC-led, AU-endorsed inter-Burundian dialogue is the only
viable process for a sustainable political settlement in Burundi. In this regard,
they called on States in the region to contribute to a peaceful solution to the
crisis in Burundi, and noted with appreciation the communiqu of the guarantors
of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic
of Congo and the region, issued on 27 January 2017 and expressing the full
support of the guarantors for the EAC facilitation and calling all parties to
collaborate towards the acceleration and conclusion of the dialogue process,
including ensuring the participation of women. They stressed the importance of
active engagement of the EAC member States for the regional mediation,
facilitated by B. Mkapa, to be continued and to succeed. The members of the
Security Council looked forward to discussions on Burundi at the forthcoming
Summit of the EAC to address impediments to progress in the dialogue process.
They also welcomed the establishment of a joint working group comprised of the
EAC, AU and UN in support of the Facilitator.

4. The members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern over slow
progress in the EAC-led, AU-endorsed inter-Burundian dialogue. They called for
all stakeholders committed to a peaceful solution to take part actively,
constructively and urgently in the above-mentioned dialogue.

5. The members of the Security Council reiterated their demand that all sides in
Burundi refrain from any action that would threaten peace and stability in the
country and may affect regional stability in the long run. They stressed the
utmost importance of respecting the Constitution as well as the letter and spirit
of the Arusha Agreement, which has helped to sustain a decade of peace in
Burundi.

6. The members of the Security Council urged the Government of Burundi to

reengage with international partners, especially the UN, in a constructive manner
based on mutual trust. They reiterated their full support to the Secretary-General
and his Special Adviser on conflict prevention, including in Burundi, in their
efforts to engage the Government of Burundi on the modalities of the
implementation of resolution 2303 (2016) in accordance with established UN
practice.

7. The members of the Security Council reiterated their regret at the decision by
Burundi to suspend all cooperation and collaboration with the Office of the UN
High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR), which has been present in the
country since 1995 to strengthen Burundis rule of law institutions, and hoped
that a swift solution can be found through dialogue between OHCHR and the
government that will enable OHCHR to resume its activities, including its
monitoring and reporting functions. They took note in this regard of the fact that
the Government of Burundi has transmitted on February 24 th, 2017 to the Office
of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva its response
to the draft agreement between the Republic of Burundi and the UN concerning
the establishment of an Office of the High Commission for Human Rights in
Burundi sent by OHCHR in November 2016.

8. The members of the Security Council called on the Government and the AU to
sign without further delay the memorandum of understanding, which will allow
the African Union human rights observers and military experts to fully operate in
the country in fulfilment of their mandated responsibilities. They emphasized the
importance of the deployment of AU observers and took note of the Secretary
Generals letter of 19 September 2016 in that regard.

9. The members of the Security Council expressed their concern about the
humanitarian and human rights situation in the country and called on the
Secretary-General to continue to sustain UN humanitarian assistance in support
of the Burundian population. They further noted that a number of bilateral and
multilateral partners have suspended their financial and technical assistance to
the government of Burundi, considering the situation in Burundi, and encouraged
bilateral and multilateral partners and the Government of Burundi to continue
their dialogue with a view to creating conducive conditions for the resumption
of the assistance.

10. The members of the Security Council welcomed the announced release of
2500 of prisoners, with political detainees among them, as part of the annual
presidential pardon and urged the Burundian sides to take further measures in
order to overcome the current political impasse. They noted with concern
continued reports of violations and abuses of human rights, strongly condemned
such acts and, recalling the primary responsibility of the Government of Burundi
for ensuring security in its territory and protecting its population, with respect to
the rule of law and human rights, reiterated their call on all parties to respect
and protect human rights and fundamental freedom for all and on the
Government to hold accountable those responsible for violating or abusing these
rights, whoever perpetrates them. They called on the Government of Burundi to
cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi mandated under Human
Rights Council resolution A/HCR/33/24.

11. They also called on States in the region to contribute to a solution to the
crisis in Burundi, and to refrain from supporting the activities of armed
movements in any way, and recalled in this regard commitments of the states in
the region under the Framework agreement for Peace, Security and Cooperation
for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region and the 1951
Convention relating to the status of refugees.

12. The members of the Security Council welcomed the briefing by the chair of
the Burundi configuration of the UN Peacebuilding Commission and the
continued engagement by the PBC in Burundi.

13. The members of the Security Council took note of the agreement between
the African Union and the Government of Burundi regarding the continued
presence of Burundian troops in AMISOM and the resumption of stipends
payments.

14. The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to
the sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and unity of Burundi.

15. The members of the Security Council expressed their determination to

continue to closely follow the situation in Burundi, including progress in the
implementation of resolution 2303 (2016).