Security Council decries impunity in Burundi, killing of staff in Somalia

The council in a statement signed by its President and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Joy Owgu, also expressed their concern for the reported acts of intimidation, harassment of members of opposition political parties, media and civil society organizations, as well as violence committed by youth groups in Burundi. She restated the urgent […]

The council in a statement signed by its President and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Joy Owgu, also expressed their concern for the reported acts of intimidation, harassment of members of opposition political parties, media and civil society organizations, as well as violence committed by youth groups in Burundi.
She restated the urgent need for the government of Burundi to address impunity, while respecting the right of due process, and for all the political parties to publicly condemn all political violence and acts of incitement to hatred or violence, in line with the constitution of Burundi and the Arusha Agreement.
Members of the council encouraged further efforts by the government of Burundi to ensure a space for all political parties and to continue to improve dialogue between all relevant actors, including civil society, with a view towards ensuring a conducive, free and open environment in the run up to the 2015 elections.
The members welcomed Burundi’s contribution to United Nations and African Union peacekeeping operations, especially in Somalia and Central African Republic.
The members of the Security Council commended the continued contribution of the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB) and the United Nations system to the country’s peace, security and development, and promised their full support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Burundi.
In  another development, the Security Council condemned the killings of two UN officials in Somali and condoled with their family, UN and the governments of France, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.
They lamented that individuals working to support the people have been killed as they sought to help Somalia progress towards peace and prosperity.
They therefore called on the Somali authorities to bring the perpetrators of the act to justice, adding that their determination to support the people of Somalia would not be reduced as a result of this or any other act.