








Insecurity has been a concern in the country since 2015, when violence emerged around the President’s decision to run for a third consecutive term.
WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, July 27, 2017 – The United Nations Special Envoy to Burundi today urged African leaders, in solidarity with the UN, to support an inclusive dialogue between the Government and the opposition in a country where political upheaval has resulted in insecurity since April 2015.
Addressing the UN Security Council, Michel Kafando, recounted his recent efforts to support the inter-Burundian dialogue, including through a visit to President Pierre Nkurunziza last month.
“We would like to see an atmosphere of peace in Burundi. But under what conditions and at what price can this be achieved?” he asked the Council in New York.
“The first requirement is to give priority to inclusive dialogue, a prerequisite for any resolution of the crisis. It becomes imperative that the Government of Burundi accedes to the request of the countries in the sub-region and the African Union, supported by the United Nations, to engage in an inclusive dialogue; that means involving the exiled opposition as well as the opposition in the country.”
He underscored the importance of regional efforts, in particular by former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, the East African Community’s mediator heading the inter-Burundian dialogue.
Mr. Mkapa was due to brief the Council alongside Mr. Kafando but was unable to due to health reasons, the UN official said.
Mr. Kafando noted that authorities in Burundi and the opposition have diverging views on the political situation in the country, in a difficult socio-economic context, but consider the situation calm and seek to preserve their national sovereignty in managing internal affairs.
He did note, however, that representatives of the political opposition and some of the civil society are concerned about what they call “authoritarian” moves by the Government.
Mr. Kafando had met with civil society leaders and political parties during his second recent visit to Burundi, from 7 to 13 July.
Highlighting his discussions during that visit, Mr. Kafando reiterated calls for greater involvement of the regional and the international community in favor of an inclusive dialogue, without preconditions, and with the participation of all Burundians.
“I deeply believe in the sub-region’s commitment to work for peace in Burundi with the support of the African Union and I strongly recommend that the United Nations accompany them and resolutely support these efforts. In the end, even if we still need a little patience, we will certainly arrive at a dynamic compromise,” the Special Envoy said.
In late June, Assistant Secretary-General Tayé-Brook Zerihoun told the Council that the security situation in the country was “fragile” and noted a series of grenade attacks in the capital, Bujumbura.
Insecurity has been a concern in the country since 2015, when violence emerged around the President’s decision to run for a third consecutive term. Some three million people are in need of humanitarian aid, with some 2.6 million others hungry, and more than 600,000 displaced from their homes.







Those bases are located in Walikale-centre and Bunyapuri (Territory of Walikale), in Masisi-centre and Nyabiondo (Territory of Masisi) and Luofu (Territory of Lubero).
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, July 19, 2017 – Within the framework of its change of mode of operations, MONUSCO will close, as from 31st July, five fixed bases in the territories of Walikale, Masisi and Lubero in the North-Kivu, says the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in DRC, Maman Sidikou.
Those bases are located in Walikale-centre and Bunyapuri (Territory of Walikale), in Masisi-centre and Nyabiondo (Territory of Masisi) and Luofu (Territory of Lubero).
The new operational device consists in prioritizing flexibility and mobility in military interventions in line with the strategy adopted by the UN department of peace-keeping operations.
It includes long-distance patrols, presence demonstrations patrols, air surveillance and rapid deployment in the event of security incident.
“MONUSCO changes its mode of operations, as it continues to fulfil its mandate, that is, continuing to back Congolese authorities’ efforts for civilians’ protection,” declares M. Sidikou.
This new operational device is already being implemented in the Kasaï province, where MONUSCO has deployed, to date, three companies, say roughly 350 troops.
“To make the device more effective, it would be critical that communities swiftly transmit all security-related information to MONUSCO,” highlighted MONUSCO military authorities.
MONUSCO will therefore step up the early warning system and ensure that access to populations is improved.
Currently, MONUSCO can deploy, pursuant to the mandate set out in the resolution 2348 of March 2017, up to 16,215 troops, against 19,815 in the previous mandate.


