Inner City Press: Investigative Reporting from the United Nations

On Burundi, US Imposes Sanctions on Contributors to Crisis, Nkurunziza Bans CSOs

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 23 -- As killings in Burundi have increased, on November 12, the Security Council adopted a belated resolution on Burundi. (Inner City Press put the full text online here, and here in French.) Afterward Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador Rycroft, the President of the Council for November what steps would actually be needed to send any peacekeepers from MONUSCO in DR Congo (he said there are discussions).

Inner City Press managed to ask French Permanent Representative Francois Delattre why UN Peacekeeping keeping using and paying for Burundian troops and police in the Central African Republic (a Press question both the UK and US Ambassador Samantha Power have seen fit to respond to.) Delattre declined to answer - but more politely than his deputy had, here.

On November 23 the US imposed sanctions. NSC spokesperson Ned Price said:

"Today President Obama issued a new Executive Order imposing sanctions against persons who have contributed to the ongoing crisis in Burundi. This Executive Order provides the authority to block the assets of those who, among other things, have engaged in or provided material support for actions that threaten peace and security in Burundi, undermine democratic processes, or who are responsible for or complicit in human rights abuses against people in Burundi. The Executive Order also imposes visa restrictions on those individuals meeting the criteria for the asset freeze. In enacting sanctions, the United States joins the European Union and the African Union, which have also decided to impose sanctions on those Burundians undermining peace in the country.

President Nkurunziza’s pursuit of a third term in office has precipitated a humanitarian, economic, and security crisis, forcing more than 200,000 Burundians to become refugees in neighboring countries. We have received multiple, credible, and ongoing reports of targeted killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and political repression by security forces, as well as violence and abuses by youth militia affiliated with the ruling party. Recent dangerous rhetoric by government officials has further contributed to the climate of fear and risks inciting further violence.

At the same time, some of those opposed to the Nkurunziza government have resorted to violence against the government, government security forces, and civilians, including murders, grenade attacks, and a coup attempt in May 2015. These actions are also contributing to the instability in Burundi. The United States remains opposed to the use of violence or other unlawful means to achieve political aims or to seize power.

We call upon all parties in Burundi to reject violence, and we will continue to investigate and impose consequences against leaders from the government or opposition who resort to violence and obstruct a political resolution to this crisis. Our consideration of sanctions against additional individuals is ongoing.

Burundi is on the precipice, but there is a clear path available to Burundi’s leaders to avoid further violence and reach a political solution to the crisis. Now is the moment for all sides in Burundi to demonstrate the strength and leadership necessary to put aside violence and engage in an internationally-mediated dialogue outside Burundi. We stand together with the many countries in the Great Lakes region, the African Union, European Union, United Nations, and others who have made this same appeal, and will support Burundi if it chooses this path. As President Obama said in his recent message to the people of Burundi, now is the time to stand against violence and to begin the hard work of uniting. "

In Burundi, the Pierre Nkurunziza government has taken to freezing the bank accounts of civil society groups, not only political but even medical. Here's from Iwacu:

"The accounts of Maison Shalom, the local NGO founded by Marguerite Barankitse were frozen. Maison Shalom is very active in humanitarian and development projects in particular. Thus, thanks to the Maison Shalom, Ruyigi has a modern hospital, open to all. This "jewel", unique to Burundi, will therefore close after the freezing of accounts of the NGOs, to punish "Maggy" accused, among others, to be opposed to third term. She was forced into exile.

"Iwacu reporters traveled to Ruyigi, they discovered a completely stunned population by the decision. The hospital will close in the neonatal unit, the only one in the region, there are still two babies and then it will be the cessation of activities. The peak unemployment, projects initiated by the Maison Shalom in development will stop. It's desperation for tens of thousands of people.

Here there is no question of third term but sick, premature babies, people operated.
There is reason to question the appropriateness of such a decision. Let's just say Maggy hatred has blinded the people who took an inhumane decision. A premature baby incubator victim of the third mandate ... It is difficult to understand."

Where is the UN on this? On FORSC, FOCODE and APRODH we aim to have more.

Where is Nkurunziza taking Burundi?

Follow @innercitypress Follow @FUNCA_info

Share |

These reports are usually also available through Google News and on Lexis-Nexis.

Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.