10.11.2015
News

Burundi’s Crisis Alarming

Burundi has fallen into a domestic political chaos over the past year after the current President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his decision to run for a third term.

Burundi’s civil society, opposition parties and the international community considered the decision unconstitutional and in breach of the Arusha peace agreement. Demonstrations that began peacefully turned violent after the security forces resorted to violence. A failed coup d’état has further aggravated the situation.

“In order to resolve the crisis, active measures from the UN and the African Union are required.”

On the 6th of November, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights informed about the murder of the well-known Burundian human rights defender Pierre Claver Mbonimpa’s son. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the murder of Mbonimpa’s family member strengthens the fear that the regime of the country is targerting violence systematically against the opposition, journalists and human rights defenders.

Mbonimpa himself narrowly survived an assassination attempt earlier this year and is being treated in a Belgian hospital. KIOS has been supporting the organization, Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained People (APRODH), which Mbonimpa is leading.

“In order to resolve the crisis, active measures from the UN and the African Union are required”, says KIOS’ Executive Director Ulla Anttila.

 

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