Brussels, 28/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is concerned about the deadly pre-election violence and infringements of political rights in Burundi, which jeopardise peace and the smooth conduct of the general elections planned between May and August 2015. The EU thus called, on Monday 27 April, on Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza (who is standing again in the next elections) to ensure that credible and democratic elections are held. If this is not the case, the EU could withdraw its support.
“The violent clashes recorded since yesterday, causing the loss of several lives and injuries, show how fragile peace still is in Burundi. The decision of the CNDD-FDD party to nominate Pierre Nkurunziza as a candidate in the 2015 presidential elections is the focus of these concerns. The EU calls on the president to address this issue in a spirit of reconciliation, in the interest of the country, and with a view to a solution that respects the Arusha agreements. For this reason, the upcoming elections should be credible, inclusive and non-violent”, say a statement published by the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.
Reiterating that the presence of an EU election observation mission is linked to these criteria, Mogherini's spokesperson gave assurances that the “EU will continue to follow the development of the situation closely to determine whether the conditions for its support are met in order to continue its action”.
The EU calls on “all actors in Burundi for restraint”, and also underlines that it is up to the authorities to ensure the peaceful exercise of civil and political rights - including the right to demonstrate and the right to freedom of expression for all the political actors, as well as civil society and the media. “Intimidation and violence, dead and injured people, the arrest of human rights protesters and the restriction of media, and the flight of refugees to neighbouring countries have no place in an election process”, the statement said (our translation throughout). The Arusha peace agreement enabled Burundi to leave years of civil war behind. (Aminata Niang)