UN voices concerns about pre-election violence in Burundi

The United Nations human rights chief said that inside and outside Burundi, stakeholders are extremely concerned about tensions rising sharply as a series of pivotal elections set to take place between May and August this year get under way, and, with the country at "a crossroads," Burundian parties must choose the path to democracy and the rule of law.

"This is a critical moment in Burundi’s history," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein at a press conference during his mission to Burundi. "Its future may well depend on which path is chosen by individual politicians and their supporters, as well as various key authorities, over the next few weeks." The choice, he said, was between free and fair elections that would strengthen and mature Burundi’s still fragile democracy, and enable an improvement in its dire socio-economic situation, and a path of violence and intimidation aimed instead at subverting democracy for the sake of gaining or maintaining political power.

"There is only one path for Burundi to follow, and that is the path of peace, rule of law and democracy," said Zeid. "Burundi cannot afford another outbreak of violence. It cannot afford it economically, politically, socially or culturally. It cannot afford it domestically or internationally." He urged politicians and activists to ensure that debate did not transform into incitement or violence and urged those competing in the election to do so fairly and graciously. He also stressed that the President and the ruling party, as well as opposition leaders, police and military should place the future well-being of the country as a whole before their own personal political desires.