

Declaration du parti FNL sur la derive totalitaire du regime CNDD-FDD (05.06.2016)





The United States Department of the Treasury has yesterday stated that three Burundian persons have been put on their sanctions list. These have been decided by the Office of Foreign Asset Control. These are three persons are:
“NGENDABANKA, Marius, Kinanira IV, Kinindo, Bujumbura, Burundi; DOB 25 Aug 1974; nationality Burundi; Gender Male; Commander, First Military Region; Deputy Chief of Land Forces; Burundian National Defense Forces Deputy Commander of Operations (individual) [BURUNDI].
NSHIMIRIMANA, Edouard; DOB 1970; POB Bugeni Vyanda, Burundi; nationality Burundi; Passport 089567 (Burundi) issued 10 Feb 2006 expires 10 Feb 2011; Former Lieutenant Colonel (individual) [BURUNDI].
SIBOMANA, Ignace; DOB 01 Jan 1972; POB Buhina, Kanyosha, Bujumbura, Burundi; nationality Burundi; Gender Male; Burundian Army Colonel, Chief of Military Intelligence (individual) [BURUNDI]” (U.S. Department of the Treasury, 02.06.2016).
Who are these men? That is what I asked myself, there has to be reasons for they are getting sanctioned. The American Government and U.S. Treasury doesn’t do this to candy snatchers in Mogadishu or Kinshasa, not even Belarussian citizens get this quickly. So they have to have a past or a reputation of certain actions.

The Rebel leader against Nkurunziza is on the List:
Let’s take the first person I will look at are Edouard Nshimirimana, have said this: “Then, we will fight until Nkurunziza is removed from power” (…)“We are on the ground and more attacks against the government will be common,” Nshimirimana said, adding that all the anti-government fighting groups have come together” (Tribune News Service, 2015). “The other objective of the new group is to protect the Arusha Agreement that limits Burundian presidents to two terms in office, said Nshimirimana. All forces against Nkurunziza are united under the Republican Forces of Burundi, Nshimirimana said. “We are calling on all Burundians who believe in the rule of law to join us,” said Nshimirimana. The rebel force was behind the recent attacks on three military camps, where they captured enough weapons to fight Burundi’s army, said Nshimirimana. “We have no choice and the world is not helping Burundians who are being killed,” he said” (Tangen, 2015). As a rebel, I am sure he is more preoccupied with finding sources to get ammunition than if he can possible use his coins on White Castle in Manhatten, New York.
The loyal soldier of Nkurunziza:
Here is the second person I look into, her is some information him, by decree of the Burundi Government he was promoted on the 6th May 2014 to be appointed as the Commander of the First Military Command. As his serial number is 0244 of the Military Commando. After this have also achieved this as Military leader: “Colonel Marius Ngendabanka , commander of the 1st Military legion , close subordinates, he “pushed” the Cibitoke assailants last December , struggled against the coup-makers and protected television and national radio. He got the Order of Patriotic Merit, Commander Class 2 million frbu and a certificate of honor” (Isanganiro, 2015). So he surely have to answer for his actions at one point, but if he cares about the sanctions from the U.S. is doubtful.

The Intelligence officer of Nkurunziza:
Here is the third person and the last one who is also a loyal subject of the Nkurunziza reign, this been said about him: He became a part of a military commission that set up two military camps in May 2015, one in Musaga in central part of Bujumbura, the second camp would be set up in Muzinda in Bubanza province; this relocations of Military camps happen after the coup d’état. He became a part of the 9 person commission, here is what being said: “commission to execution this project has already been implemented. It would be composed of 9 officers, mostly from the former Armed Movements and Political Parties (PMPA). Among these, we can cite Colonel Ignatius SIBOMANA charge of military intelligence technically called G2 army” (Jeudi, 2015). Here is another report: “Ignace Sibomana was one of drugs’ traders named as “Kanyanga” for three years ago in Rwabinagu Village. He told his neighbors that Rwabinagu Centre was the focal point of drugs and he hopes that with the sensitization people will positively change step by step. Ignace Sibomana assumed that narcotic business impedes the development process and he recommended parents to give advice to some of inhabitants who don’t respect the assigned rules”(Ntakirutimana, 2012). This here been said at a later stage: “Colonel Sibomana Ignace head of department in charge of intelligence to the joint chiefs of staff general of the national defence force: (G2) SS 0174 of the serial number. He’s taking it out on a daily basis to the officers ex-FAB, he is behind almost all undue imprisonment of military and former military ex fab. His last find, spying on his fellow officers tutsi of staff general with microphones posed quietly in their offices!!!” (Burundi Journalistes et Société Civile, 20.02.2016). So the former drug-dealer turned Chief of Intelligence, that is surely a case of corrupted mind, hat the U.S. wants to sanction. As he is parts of the central leadership in the Nkurunziza military organization, so he surely have a say and makes important orders in the unrest and crisis.
This is enough for now. Peace.
Reference:
Isanganiro, Pacifique Cubahiro – ‘53ème Anniversaire de l’indépendance du Burundi : Des militaire et policiers contre le putch manqué ovationnés par le président Pierre Nkurunziza’ (01.07.2015) link: http://infosgrandslacs.info/productions/53eme-anniversaire-de-lindependance-du-burundi-des-militaire-et-policiers-contre-le
Ntakirutimana, Faustin – ‘“Drugs inhibit the development of the country”, Claudine UWINEZA’ (25.01.2012 link: http://www.southernprovince.gov.rw/index.php?id=56&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=207&cHash=3a0a224dd7e644c5acc2f27bf4174bd9
Jeudi – ‘Démantèlement ou simple délocalisation de camps militaires?’ (12.09.2015) link: http://www.rpa.bi/index.php/component/k2/item/1326-demantelement-ou-simple-delocalisation-de-camps-militaires
Tribune News Service – ‘Burundian rebels unite, declare war on President Nkurunziza’ (23.12.2015) link: http://www.pressherald.com/2015/12/23/burundian-rebels-unite-declare-war-on-president-nkurunziza/
Tangen, Ole Jr. – ‘New rebel group vows to overthrow Burundian president’ (25.12.2015) link: http://www.dw.com/en/new-rebel-group-vows-to-overthrow-burundian-president/a-18942114
U.S. Department of Treasury – ‘Burundi Sanctions Designations’ (02.06.2016) link: https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20160602.aspx
“Opposition groups in Burundi have accused the government of arming the ruling party’s youth wing. They say it is an attempt to keep the president in power. People who have fled the country say they have been intimidated and fear for their lives” (Al Jazeera English, 2016)




NEW YORK, United States of America, May 25, 2016 – “Special Adviser Jamal Benomar is traveling to Bujumbura today following the conclusion of talks on Burundi that took place in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Special Adviser hopes that the talks in Arusha were a first step towards genuine and inclusive dialogue. He welcomed the meetings and stressed the undeniable challenge of starting a viable political process. He urged all of those involved to work diligently in order for that to happen as soon as possible.
Mr. Benomar has been consulting with various stakeholders who attended the talks and will continue to reach out to and consult with others who did not attend. During his visit to Arusha, he reiterated to former President Benjamin Mkapa that he and his team are ready to assist and support the facilitator in moving the process forward.”
“During these four days, we have had very fruitful consultations. At any moment there were no acrimonious interventions. All of you showed a high degree of civility, patriotism and a great desire to own the dialogue. It is evident that you are yearning for peace and a stop to killings and assassinations. I note that there is tremendous aversion to violence, targeted killings, and the realization that war is not a solution to the crisis. Some of you have expressed concerns about the economic decline obtaining in the country because of the crisis. I hope that during your stay here in Arusha, you were able to interact and exchange widely on issues of general concern. In the next two weeks, I will continue and complete the consultations with those who did not come during this session, but whom I feel might have positive contributions to make to the process. I will also consult with the Mediator in order to determine the way forward. Thereafter, I expect to convene a dialogue session possibly during the third week of June.” (Ikiriho News, 2016)

We live in a Post-Modern world they say, still our leaders acts like medieval times, they are forcing themselves on their nations, on their economies and use their knights to secure their kingdom, their republic and fiefdom. The Opposition who is not accepting the legitimacy of these medieval acts upon their nations are harassed and taken to court, by them who act like they are above the law, as they decree the laws and are the head of state. Therefore this pattern isn’t new; Machiavelli would be proud and wonder if these leaders had read his work “The Prince”.

Just as the wreckage of the local laws and ushering in the third term for CNDD-FDD President Pierre Nkurunziza, who has used the Army and Police to control the country by all means, as the Opposition are dwindling away… like the assassination and killingsof Zedi Feruzi (Union for Peace and Democracy – UPD), Jean Paul Ngendakumana (Front for Democracy in Burundi – Frodebu), Patrice Gahungu (Union for Peace and Democracy – UPD) and Pontien Barutwanayo (National Liberation Forces). Are some men who are gone in the wind by the power-hungry president in Burundi, while Opposition leader who wanted to live like UPD Agathon Rwasa accepted the role as Deputy Speaker in Parliament; so the leadership of CNDD-FDD controls while the real dissidents are either dead or fled as the safety to be opposition in Burundi is not a safe position as the leadership have proven vigilant in getting rid of the ones who stands in the way of Nkurunziza.

While in Rwanda, the neighbor who have had a government under the Rwandan Patriotic Front since 1994, where the current second term President Paul Kagame is consolidating his position while the opposition lingers or have no place in the landscape as the militarized politics there does accept anything else then the will of Paul Kagame. Therefore the leader of the FDU (Forces Democratiques Unifies) Victorie Ingabire Umuhoza is lingering in jail since 2013 and is sentenced to a 15 year jail time. While the fighting Democratic Green Party of Rwanda with their leader Frank Habineza have worked to stifle the abolishment for Presidential term limits, but before that it took the party four years to be verified through the lawful process of the country when it was allowed to exist in 2013. So it is not like the President Kagame is happy about having the DGPR and the FDU in the country. Today the Lawyer (20.05.2016) representing Victorie Ingaire Umuhoza has been expelled from the African Court of Human and People’s Rights, the African Union Courts in Gambia. So the case on human rights must have tanked or been dismissed by the court, but nothing is clarified on the situation on the matter and Victorie Ingabire Umuhoza (FDU) there!

In the Democratic Republic of Congo the leadership around the Second Kabila, or Second term President Joseph Kabila, where there are supposed to be an election later this year and the running up to it. As the MLC have lost their leader at the ICC with Jean-Pierre Bemba charged there recently, as he was part of the “unity” government together with Kabila until the ICC caught up with him. While the Opposition have been under fire as Felix Tshisekendi is even behind the main contender in the DRC. As the Opposition went behind Moïse Katumbi, the ones behind on the 4th May 2016 was the G-7, the Collectif des Nationalistes and also Alliance pour la Republique. So the Football Tycoon and former Governor of Katanga have gotten heavy loads behind him and his candidature, while Kabila have been driving together with the military in Lubumbashi and other places. While that intimidation have not been enough as the supporters of the opposition have felt the tear-gas and Police Force dispersing them. Moïse Katumbi is now charged with hiring mercenaries and threatening National Security, with an arrest warrant on him. Certainly an effective to silence main candidate before the Presidential Election later in the year, since the Kabila government have not lead to progress or any clear-cut development. Just to put some intelligence on it: “The Police has” embarked on the track of an operation called OP Congo whose objectives, human resources , logistics, finance and modus operandi , appear to be known today as ” Cow Boy “, the code name that refers to Moïse Katumbi ” (LE SOFT INTERNATIONAL, 19.05.2016). With this in mind we can see how the Police have planned to take down the candidacy of Hon. Katumbi in favor of Kabila and continue the supremacy of the Kabila Family over the Congolese Republic!

In Uganda after a hectic and shady election, with the Police involved directly in Opposition parties movement and also government control of the Electoral Commission that had to select the men that was decided by the Executive, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President since 1986 who have total control of National Resistance Movement and tries to crash the opposition. The way he does that is to get rid of strong leaders from Parliament like Dr. Olara Otunnu while paying loyalty to new Party Leader Hon. Jimmy Akena of Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and also not allowing Norbert Mao from Democratic Party of Uganda, therefore weakening that party to. Finally to by decree of loyal judge Stephen Kavuma who banned the Defiance Campaign for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), that has made it “legal” for the authority for the Police to house-arrest, detain and siege the Headquarters, in general making all activities of the Opposition Party illegal. By that extent making the Presidential Candidate of FDC Dr. Kizza Besigye that had the support of the people while the Ruling Party rigged the election with amp-speed had a mock swearing-in the day before the “official” one towards the Seventh Term of Museveni. Since then has been taken airlifted from Kampala to Moroto, and after local unrest in Moroto, taken back to Kampala, and he is now charged with “Treason” as he has questioned the powers to be and the President, as the sham election that we’re held is righteous to ask the legitimacy of it. So now the People’s President Besigye is now behind bars, while Museveni does what he can to again consolidate all power and continue everything as usual, while the FDC is harassed, detained and silenced by the Court Order. Even JEEMA Fourm has had visits of Police Force and even artist of Bobi Wine have been detained because they speak up against the regime. So the Police Force and the Army is the strength behind Museveni, not loyalty or love from the People, that he has lost and dwindled away, therefore he pays MPs to get the votes he need, not because of his vision or wisdom of building the nation. Therefore he prosecutes and takes down the FDC as they are everything he is not…

In Kenya, where there are some kind of calm, though there is not criminalized the Opposition, as the Opposition parties are in a Coalition, the same as the ruling regime under the Jubilee, who will become one-party instead of Coalition into the General Election in 2017. Jubilee Alliance Party will soon be truly founded though existed without legal paperwork. While the Opposition in the Coalition of Democratic and Reform (CORD-Kenya) are demonstrating against a biased Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC); something IEBC are under fire by the Opposition coalition CORD-Kenya on three Mondays. The Nairobi Metropolitan Police have gone too far in dispersing the Opposition demonstrators, as the Police Brutality is not only water-cannons and the tear-gas against leaders or the people, together with the violence of fighting and kicking civilians, even shooting at Hon. Raila Odinga car at the last demonstrations. So the violent Police are now showing hatred against the Opposition. The Kenyan Government is not detaining or directly harassing the Opposition, but the tear-gas of demonstrations and not listening to claims, instead counter-claiming they are trying to use the laws and Electoral laws to shun them from power, while even making laws to fix and allow the Jubilee Coalition to become a legitimate party in the state. So the leadership of Jubilee allows them to fix as they need, but not see the questions of opposition and use tear-gas to silence them before the General Election 2017. There are worrying signs of oppressive behavior… and also Jubilee MPs who attacks the legitimate demonstrations and questionable acts from the IEBC in the past and in the coming future election. That shouldn’t be masked to the side as the dialogue and discussion between Jubilee and CORD-Kenya, should settle this early, so they could work initially for peaceful election in unison political climate, instead of creating a valley between the Coalitions. That is not something Kenya needs…

The Oppositions does not have it easy and the levels are proven, the worst are Rwanda and Burundi, even if the DGPR is allowed to exist as long as they don’t really challenge the presidency and their regime, because if they do they will be behind bars for National Security sake like FDU Victorie Ingabire Uhuhoza. While in Burundi the Opposition to the third term president Nkurunziza have been assassinated or killed, this while the government together with stakeholders have had peace-talks with stakeholders and also the remaining Opposition; the Opposition that has not already been killed or assassinated. In Uganda the FDC former Presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye is charged with “Treason” and still many of the FDC leaders and supporters detained, while the headquarters are sieged by the Police. In Democratic Republic of Congo the Opposition Presidential Candidate Moïse Katumbi is charged for hiring mercenaries and causing problems for National Security, while the incumbent President tries to stifle the best candidate in the up-coming election by doing so, as the Opposition Parties have gone behind candidature of Katumbi. Also in Kenya, the place where it is the best in these countries to be a Opposition, as they are more free, but to an extent, if they question the government or the Electoral Reforms of the IEBC; that is not accepted by the Nairobi Police who brutally disperse the demonstrators of the Opposition and the Opposition leader Hon. Raila Odinga have been tear-gassed and his car been shot at. So there is time to settle down for the government and time for dialogue, so the escalated violence doesn’t continue into the elections, as the citizens of Kenya doesn’t deserve that and neither does the demonstrators who are being violated around the Anniversary Tower.
That’s enough for now. Peace.
“One year on from the political violence that swept Burundi’s capital Bujumbura and spread across the country, new arrivals to refugee camps in neighbouring Tanzania denounce a litany of ongoing horrors at home. They say torture, disappearances, massacres of loved ones and neighbours and arrests on the border are rife” (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2016).

Dear His Exellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni!
I know you are touchy now-a-days it can’t be that easy being you. You have your Army and Police Force enforced on the people you are supposed to represent. Mr. President you have hired French speaking soldiers to deploy safety before the swearing-in, while there is a court-order about suspending the planned Swearing-In. While the Forum for Democratic Change and other Opposition continues to hustle in your backyard. You can’t have that right, it is your playground.
What is worse is that the American and European Union is not kissing your hand and respecting you as they used too. They used to say you we’re the proud future of African Leaders, the fresh new blood. Back in the day in early 1990s the then American President Bill Clinton praised you as the “New Breed” of African Leadership. Since you we’re not the same as the lingering leaders like Mobutu Sese Seko of then Zaire (Now Democratic Republic of Congo).

It can’t be easy to be you, you had the potential and the opportunity to leave a legacy of hope and democratic progress, even if you really we’re not really for it. Because you wanted to control the processes through the Resistance Councils instead of the now District and Local Government Councils around the Ugandan Country; and all of them are not directly loyal too you and the party line you have created in the National Resistance Movement.
And now after the hectic elections and the tides are turning. The old-friends from the West isn’t supporting your cause and your actions. That hurts you as you are the old-man with the hand and the only one with a Vision to Lead the Ugandan Republic. As you have taken it from the British Enclave into the Less-Developed Country (LDC) it is today.

Then all the international pundits that comments on the internal activities of your government, the way you want to control all parts of the political map as you have paid of Jimmy Akena and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and disfranchised the Democratic Party. While not able to play the Forum for Democratic Change as they have been steadfast and countered your moves. They make your life so hectic and distress at every move, as they are supposed to respect you authority just as Hon. Akena do!
You’re supposed to be an honourable statesman by now. Instead you’re a Political Piranha for the international community who are tarnishing your name and rule. They are supposed to respect that you uses the army to intimidate the citizens, the citizens who are supposed to be sensitised under your understanding. As much they want to give you money to develop the Crude-Oil drilling and Pipeline to the Tanga Port in Tanzania. The International Community is supposed to salute you for the industrial feet of taking the dinosaur-remains or even fossil-fuel to drive the vehicles that our cars use.

It can’t be easy for you, Mr. President your questioned and become tarnished by the international community; who back-in-the-day called you the future and the New Breed. Though the ones that praised are long gone or is busy trying to get their wife [Hillary Clinton] elected in the Democratic Party in United States.
It can’t be easy for you, Mr. President that they are slashing the limited monies for the peacekeeping operations in Somalia and Central African Republic while you send troops there and keeps Mogadishu and other parts C.A.R. under some kind of control. While the United States and the European Union, condemns your internal wrangles that is not territory or their jurisdiction.

So you are hurt and feel the need to patch your hurt. Therefore as a tiny token from an adversary of you. It is time to see that you are not the new Breed as much as Butros Butros Gali of the United Nations does not have the same space for you as before. You we’re the beacon of hope, the man people looked up as they saw you as the man who beat dictatorship and created a new political landscape. What happen to you Mr. President?
It cannot be easy to see the devalued you have become, the easy way these foreign missions and elections observes says your rule it is not credible or genuine as you have dealt with school elections since your younger days at Ntare School. They don’t understand democracy as you do. These foreigners don’t understand how your handpicked men can represent the people’s will of Uganda, which is initially yours.
You have the audacity not only to house-arrest your opposition, but monitor and deny entrance to where they live. That means that your Police Force denies entry into where they live like today with Winnie Byanyima the wife Dr. Kizza Besigye was denied to go home. That is why it isn’t easy to be you.

It isn’t easy to be you as your age is even under question by your own:
“In his affidavit, Bigirwa wrote: “That I verily believe that the respondent [Museveni] is 79 years old as he participated in the general elections of 1961 and he was a voter and staunch supporter of the late Benedicto Kiwanuka and the respondent [Museveni] was 23 years old.” (Kiyongo, 2016). This must be damning since if this is true you are older and actually felt the independence as a grown man, as with this you would be born in 1939. Because you’re saying you officially were born in 1944. That is five years difference and also show’s if it is true, then you breached the laws you created. The Constitution says the law for an elected President cannot be over 75 years old. If the word of Moses Birgirwa is true, as his affidavit says it is correct and that means that you Mr. President we’re born in 1939 instead of 1944. That is big thing for you and your reputation yet again.
Not that it’s your first or last lie in the public. They come and go as it is not easy to rule and be honest, transparent and also responsible at the same time. As you have proven to the public and to the people from time to time; like you had no idea what happen in Rwanda and if the Rwanda Patriotic Army had any involvement around 1993-1994. Your armies had nothing to do in the end of first and second war in Democratic Republic of Congo. Even if you with pride after is said about yourself to be a kingmaker! You Mr. President is the Kingmaker who have made way for Paul Kagame, Laurent Kabila, Joseph Kabila and sometimes take your giant wings to support Pierre Nkurunziza, the same you did for Salva Kiir Mayardit as well.

So it is not easy to you nowadays as the Opposition have the support of International Community as you have lingered in power and taken the Ugandan People for granted. They expected something else of you. As you have yourself learned the lessons of Frantz Fanon who told that a leader couldn’t control the population, but only have true support if they are behind them; you couldn’t force them to support a leader, that wouldn’t work. But you know this you wrote about this in a thesis at the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania.
I am sure Mr. President that you never thought the world would come so quickly to door-step, that the words of your mouth would go further than Lira and Nairobi when talking to the press in Kampala or Mbarara. Instead now with this Social Media that you dislike with a passion, because you can’t control what people say and do. Something you prefer as you want to control and lead people, not make people lead you. As you Mr. President are the man-with-the-vision, not the man who has to listen. That is why you talk wild about the media and was so attacking on the Daily Nation and the NTV Uganda.

So it can’t be easy to be you. The ground is burning. You are one out of two elephants that are stomping the ground. You and Dr. Kizza Besigye are fighting elephants while the grass is the people. It is not easy to see how the state you will leave behind as he fights you with peaceful means and demonstrations. You have now done the same as Mobutu, the same as the former leaders you claimed to liberate the Ugandan people from. You have become the Machiavellian leader who speaks one thing and attack on the other. You’re ruthless Mr. President and the cards you playing is now open. They are expected you cannot pay and exchange governmental positions with the FDC and the men who want accountability and a transparent government that actually cares about the Ugandan citizens. Because your actions looks like the man who turns to guns and armies instead of the democratic values you spoke in the 1980s and 1990s even if you never believed in them. I say that Mr. President because of the actions of recent years proves that the opening of Multi-Party system was just to silence the International Community and keep them pumping up your national budget and to fill your coffers. We know that now and therefore condemn you.
Mr. President not easy to pull out of Somalia and the Central African Republic as the funds and the loyalty showed have been given your government useful foreign exchange, even if the funds from European Union and United States government have dwindled time as the Kenyan also taken parts of action as well and after President Moi been out of office, the continued relationship between U.S. and them have become better. Something you now and it makes your mind boggle on the farm.

So it can’t be easy to be Mr. President who has the world on your shoulder, everybody question all of your actions, while you embezzle state-funds, keeps oil-drilling license secret, other activity secret and at the same time have to use army and police to silence the people. Intimidate the people as they know and you know deep in your heart that you stole the 2016 election. Peace.
Best Regards
The Writer of Minbane
Reference:
Kyonga, Derick – ‘Court petitioned to stop Museveni swearing-in’ (06.05.2016) link: http://observer.ug/news-headlines/44079-court-petitioned-to-stop-museveni-swearing-in

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 4, 2016 – Thirty-two (32) African Union human rights observers will be able to continue their work in Burundi for another six months after the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) transferred $2.26 million to the African Union Commission late last week, the AU and the PBF announced today.
This is the first time the PBF provides direct support to the African Union Commission and it represents a move toward strengthened cooperation between the UN and the AU in peacebuilding, in line with the resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly and Security Council last week, calling on the UN to strengthen its cooperation with the AU and other regional organisations.
In this latest round of financing, the PBF also supports the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Burundi with just over $300,000 for training and joint monitoring missions with the AU.
The observers were deployed in response to the decisions of the African Union Peace and Security Council of 14 May 2015 and 13 June 2015, expressing its concern with the increased cases of human rights abuses in Burundi. They are tasked with observing, monitoring and documenting human rights violations in the country as well as human rights advocacy with the government.
The observers have been deployed since July 2015 with funding support from the European Union, which is also supporting the AU military experts in Burundi. The PBF funds cover 32 human rights observers’ presence from April to September 2016. Their deployment is the second step in the AU’s planned deployment of 100 human rights observers and 100 military experts.
This support builds on existing PBF financing for human rights in Burundi. Human rights have been one of the key areas of PBF support to Burundi from the initial stages of PBF engagement in 2008. The AU and the PBF welcomed this fruitful cooperation and hope that the presence of the AU human rights observers will help to reduce the violations of human rights in Burundi.