Brussels, 19/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 18 May, the European Union condemned the attempted coup d'état in Burundi and called on all parties - authorities, political forces and civil society - to engage “in an inclusive and transparent political dialogue” in order to resolve their differences peacefully.
The conclusions, adopted without debate on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, express the EU's “deep concern” at the very fragile situation created by the failed coup d'état against President Pierre Nkurunziza (who is running for a third mandate), and at the “risk of divisions being exacerbated within Burundian society”. The EU is also concerned at the massive displacement of the population leading to these political tensions, and at the worsening humanitarian situation.
The EU therefore calls on all parties to “take account of the higher interest of the country and to seek solutions that respect the Arusha agreements” - the basis on which peace and democracy have been built since 2000.
The EU shares the conclusion of the East African Community summit that the appropriate conditions for organising elections have not been met and that a postponement within the limits of the constitution is essential. The EU reiterates that its support for the electoral process and the effective presence of its electoral observation mission were subject to these conditions, and it underlines that it is up to “the majority and the opposition to ensure an appropriate context for holding elections”.
The EU expresses its utmost support for the efforts of the United Nations; for the action of the African Union and for the initiatives of the East African Community to facilitate the dialogue between the parties and Burundi's return to stability. The EU congratulates the African Union on its decision to deploy human rights observers in the country swiftly.
Respect for human rights is one of the key elements of the Cotonou agreement that binds the EU to Burundi (and to the other 78 ACP countries), and the Council states that the EU is ready to consider restrictive measures to the cooperation with Burundi and is determined to adopt sanctions, if necessary, with the support of the UN Security Council against those responsible for perpetuating the violence and hampering the search for a political solution.
On 13 May, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini called on all the actors for restraint and asked them “to take the measures in their power to ensure that human rights are respected for all Burundians”.
Warning against the risk of seeing “the considerable progress made by Burundi in recent years” wiped out, Mogherini had also stated that “the holding of inclusive, credible and transparent elections in a political environment free of intimidation or violence” was a key element in the Arusha agreements.
“The conditions for such elections must be re-established as quickly as possible in order to allow the people to choose a legitimate and constitutional government”, Mogherini stated (our translation throughout). (Aminata Niang)