Consultations between SRSG and Burundi First Vice President

11 Sep 2014

Consultations between SRSG and Burundi First Vice President

8 September 2014 - As part of his regular meetings with Burundian authorities, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Monday met with Burundi First Vice President. Mr. Prosper Bazombanza and Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga discussed the First Vice President's participation to the United Nations General Assembly, set for end of September in New York, as well as the country's current political situation.

Regarding 2015 elections in Burundi, the Special Representative told media that the United Nations will deploy to Burundi, next January, an electoral observation mission.

In his report on Burundi discussed by the Security Council in August, the Secretary-General notes that "2015 elections will be a critical milestone for the long-term stability of Burundi." "If the elections are peaceful and inclusive and if they are conducted in a credible manner, they offer an opportunity to consolidate Burundi's democratic transition. Less than a year from the elections, I am concerned by the steady increase in acts of violence and human rights violations compared with the corresponding period in 2013. Credible elections also presume a level playing field that allows for fair competition between candidates before electoral events, and for citizens to be able to make a choice without fear of violence or intimidation. Unfortunately, this is not the case now. (…)," the document states.