UN sets up new operation to consolidate peace in Burundi

UN sets up new operation to consolidate peace in Burundi

2010-12-17 11:44:20 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Security Council on Thursday set up a UN operation in Burundi to help the country consolidate peace as it is recovering from decades of civil war and ethnic fighting.

In an unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body mandated the new UN Office in Burundi (BNUB) to run for an initial 12-month period and beginning on January 1, 2011. This is the latest in a series of UN operations in Burundi and will replace the current UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB).

The UN operation will support the Burundi government in strengthening the independence, capacities and legal frameworks of key national institutions, in particular the judiciary and parliament; promoting dialogue between national actors; fighting impunity and protecting human rights.

The Security Council urged Burundi to redouble efforts to reform the security sector and political, economic and administrative governance, tackle corruption, and promote human rights by establishing a National Independent Human Rights Commission as soon as possible.

The Council, in its resolution, also remarked the progress made in Burundi so far towards peace, stability and development by the government but noted the reports of human rights violations. This includes reported killings and tortures, restrictions on civil liberties such as freedom of expression, association and assembly of opposition parties and civil society organizations.

"I am deeply concerned about signs of a returning climate of impunity, the resurgence of acts of torture, intimidation, extrajudicial executions and arrests of opposition members, as well as restrictions on the freedom of expression and assembly," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wrote in his latest report on the Burundi operation.

Burundi was the first African country, along Sierra Leone, to be targeted by the UN Peacebuilding Commission in 2006 after it was launched. The agency was established to provide financial, economic and other support to prevent countries emerging from conflict from relapsing back into it.

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