Communique: 507th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council on the Situation in Burundi

COMMUNIQUE

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 507^th meeting held on 14 May 2015, adopted the following decision on the situation in Burundi:

Council,

1. Takes note of the briefing given by the Commission on developments in Burundi and relating international efforts, as well as of the statement made by the Permanent Representative of Burundi to the AU. Council also takes note of the statements made by the Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania to the AU, as Chair of the East African Community (EAC), as well as by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the AU, as a Member State of the EAC, and the representatives of the EAC General Secretariat and the United Nations (UN);

2. Recalls its earlier communiques and press statements on the situation in Burundi, as well as the press releases and statements by the Chairperson of the Commission. Council also recalls the relevant AU instruments, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, notably its provisions relating to the rejection by the AU of any form of unconstitutional change of Government. Council further recalls the AU's responsibilities as Guarantor of the 2000 Arusha Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Burundi, and underlines its determination to fully assume its role and to take all measures that the situation in Burundi requires, in accordance with its mandate as stipulated in the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council;

3. Expresses its deep concern about the evolution of the situation in Burundi, including the armed clashes that are taking place in Bujumbura, and deplores the loss of human life. Council stresses that this situation has the potential of leading to wide-scale violence, which could seriously jeopardize peace and security in the country, undermine the important gains recorded following the signing of the Arusha Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Burundi and the 2003 Global Ceasefire Agreement, aggravate the humanitarian situation, and seriously affect the stability of the region;

4. Reiterates the strong condemnation by the AU of all acts of violence, including the ongoing clashes in Bujumbura between factions of the army, attacks against civilian populations and other abuses, as well as the destruction of public infrastructure and other property;

5. Further reiterates the AU's strong condemnation of any attempt to seize power by force and the imperative for all Burundian stakeholders to settle their differences through peaceful means, in accordance with the relevant AU instruments, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. In this regard, Council endorses the communique of the 13^th Extraordinary Summit of the EAC, held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, on 13 May 2015, as well as the press release issued the same day by the Chairperson of the Commission, condemning the attempt to take power by force in Burundi;

6. Reiterates its support for the sustained efforts being deployed by the EACand endorses the measures adopted by the Dar-es-Salaam Extraordinary Summit, including the call for the postponement of the elections and the immediate cessation of violence, and looks forward to the follow-up steps provided for in the communique, including the convening of another Summit;

7. Welcomes the initiatives taken by the Chairperson of the Commission, including dispatching a high-level mission to Bujumbura led by former OAU Secretary-General and former Prime Minister of Togo, member of the AU Panel of the Wise, Edem Kodjo, and including Professor Ibrahima Fall of Senegal, as well as her ongoing consultations with the leaders of the region and international partners;

8. Expresses its appreciation to the UN for its sustained efforts towards the search for a solution, in particular through the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Great Lakes region, Said Djinnit, as well as to other concerned international actors;

9. Reaffirms that only dialogue and consensus, based on the respect of the Arusha Agreement and the Constitution of Burundi, will make it possible to find a lasting political solution that would ensure the preservation and consolidation of peace, as well as the strengthening of democracy and the rule of law. Council stresses the need for all the Burundian parties to place the higher interests of their country and people above personal and partisan considerations. Council demands that the parties immediately cease fighting and of all other acts of violence, initiate a genuine dialogue, under the auspices of the EAC and the AU, with the support of the UN and other concerned international actors, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the crisis, as well as fully respect fundamental freedoms, human rights and international humanitarian law;

10. Expresses its determination to take, as appropriate, and with the support of the UN Security Council, all necessary measures against Burundian stakeholders whose acts would lead to the perpetuation of violence and impede the search for a political solution;

11. Urges the AU high-level mission currently in Burundi to continue and intensify its consultations with all the stakeholders in Burundi, in order to facilitate the immediate cessation of hostilities and dialogue to find a lasting political solution to the current crisis. Council calls on all parties to extend their full cooperation to the high-level mission;

12. Requests the Commission to take all necessary steps to enhance the AU Office in Bujumbura and to expedite its consultations with the Government of Burundi towards the early deployment of human rights observers and other civilian personnel, to monitor the human rights situation on the ground, report violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and undertake local conflict prevention and resolution activities. Council requests the Government of Burundi and all other concerned parties to facilitate the deployment and guarantee the security of these civilian personnel;

13. Welcomes the determination of the region, as expressed in the Dar-es-Salaam communique, not to accept nor standby if violence does not stop or escalates in Burundi. In this respect, Council requests on the Commission, in consultation with the East African Standby Force, to undertake contingency planning, in view of the possible deployment of an expanded mission to ensure the protection of civilians and property and facilitate the cessation of violence;

14. Notes with deep concern the flow of refugees from Burundi into neighboring countries, commends the host countries and the humanitarian agencies for their support to the affected populations, and calls upon the international community to extend the necessary humanitarian assistance;

15. Requests the Commission to keep Council regularly informed of the evolution of the situation to enable it to take the necessary measures;

16. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.