UN investigators are urging Burundi to reopen democratic and civil spaces ahead of the elections due to worsening rights abuses and violence, especially from the ruling party’s youth league. The humanitarian situation for over 336,000 refugees remains dire amid smoldering tensions since political unrest erupted in 2015.
As Burundi approaches its local and presidential elections in two months, UN-appointed rights investigators are urging the government to restore fundamental democratic freedoms. According to the Geneva-based Commission Inquiry on Burundi (COIB) during a UN Human Rights Council briefing on March 9, these rights are crucial for conducting free and credible elections in a peaceful atmosphere.
The Commission has also noted a significant deterioration in Burundian conditions—politically, economically, and in terms of security. A notable threat is posed by the Imbonerakure, a youth league aligned with President Pierre Nkurunziza’s ruling party, which has been implicated in numerous attacks against opposition figures and their families.
There have been reports of severe human rights abuses, including killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, torture, and rape against perceived political opponents. Investigators expressed concern over the climate of impunity that pervades these crimes and highlighted the dire humanitarian landscape.
Approximately 336,000 Burundian refugees currently reside in neighboring countries, with the conditions under which some are returned being questionable, raising doubts about the voluntary nature of their repatriation. Since 2015, when Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term sparked unrest and violence, the nation has faced ongoing turmoil, resulting in heavy casualties and mass displacement of citizens.
The situation in Burundi remains precarious as the upcoming elections draw closer. Key authorities stress the need for human rights restoration to enable credible elections. Rising violence, especially from the Imbonerakure, coupled with serious humanitarian issues, underlines the urgency for a shift in the prevailing repression and violence. Observers are alarmed by the implications of a deteriorating human rights environment for both electoral integrity and national security.
Original Source: news.un.org
