LE SECRETAIRE GENERAL ADJOINT DES NATIONS UNIES SAISIT LE CONSEIL DE SECURITE SUR L’ARMEMENT DES IMBONERAKURE

Burundi Information (le 09 avril 2014). Nous continuons à suivre de très près la façon dont le système des Nations Unies réagit à l’ampleur de l’armement de la milice Imbonerakure par le régime des terroristes génocidaires du CNDD-FDD. Nous vous livrons à présent le discours que le Secrétaire Général-Adjoint des Nations Unies chargé des Affaires Politiques, l’Etasunien Jeffrey Feltman, a prononcé le 08 avril 2014 devant le Conseil de Sécurité de l’ONU; il s’adressait à cet organe pour l’informer de l’armement systématique de l’aile jeunesse du parti au pouvoir (nous vous en faisons un résumé en français tout en vous en remettant l’intégralité en anglais à la fin).Dans son allocution, l’Ambassadeur Jeffrey Feltman souligne qu’au cours des derniers mois, des armes et une formation au maniement des armes à feu ont été fournis aux Imbonerakure à plusieurs endroits. Y sont également mentionnées les attaques des Imbonerakure contre les membres de l’UPRONA ainsi que leurs confrontations avec les jeunes des FNL et du FRODEBU enregistrées récemment à Bugabira dans la province de Kirundo. Il insiste particulièrement sur la campagne systématique de harcèlement des adversaires politiques engagée ces derniers jours par les Imbonerakure; le fait que les membres de cette milice ne sont généralement pas arrêtés, que même s’ils sont détenus, ils sont immédiatement libérés suite à l’intervention des autorités locales.

Le Secrétaire Genral-Adjoint des Nations Unies chargé des Affaires Politiques revient aussi sur:

– la rencontre entre le Secrétaire général de l’ONU avec Pierre Nkurunziza le 3 avril 2014 en marge du sommet UE – UA à Bruxelles

– comment Pierre Nkurunziza a essayé de minimiser la gravité de la situation en invitant le Secrétaire général à ne pas écouter “ces fausses informations de certains partis politiques ”

– les vives préoccupations exprimees le 6 Avril à Kigali par le Secrétaire général, en marge de la 20ème commémoration du génocide au Rwanda

– la rencontré qu’il avait eue lui-même le 07 avril 2014 avec le Ministre Edouard Nduwimana et le Secrétaire permanent du Ministère des affaires étrangères du Burundi, rencontre au cours de laquelle les deux responsables burundais ont tenté de rejeter les rapports sur les activités de l’ Imbonerakure faisant valoir que ceux-ci étaient de la propagande alarmiste des partis d’opposition et des médias ;

– la correspondance adressée à Pierre Nkurunziza le 31 mars 2014 par l’équipe d’envoyés spéciaux pour la région des Grands Lacs, sous la direction de l’Envoyée spéciale du Secrétaire général pour la région des Grands Lacs, Mary Robinson, correspondance condamnant fermement la violence et appelant le Président en place à ouvrir l’espace politique.

Enfin, l’Ambassadeur Jeffrey Feltman rappelle dans son discours que le Secrétaire général des Nations Unies a également sollicité les leaders régionaux pour qu’ils encouragent le gouvernement du Burundi à prendre des mesures concrètes visant à freiner les actes de violence et d’intimidation. Il souligne qu’à cet effet, le Conseiller Spécial du Secrétaire général sur la prévention du génocide, Adama Dieng, sera à Bujumbura cette semaine pour une visite de suivi sur les points évoqués ci-dessus et en particulier, les activités des Imbonerakure.

Bonne lecture.

La Rédaction

PS: A lire aussi (en anglais): Samantha Power s’adresse à Bujumbura

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 Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman Address to the United Nations Security Council. April 8th, 2014

Madam President, 

Distinguished Members of the Council, 

1. Following the 25 March briefing by the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Taye Zerihoun, we have received further information on what appears to be systematic efforts to arm and train the youth wing, known as the Imbonerakure, of Burundi’s ruling party, the CNDD-FDD. 

2. According to these reports, which are thought to be credible but not corroborated, in January and February, weapons and firearm training were provided to the Imbonerakure in several locations in the provinces of Makamba and Bururi in southern Burundi. The reports of distribution of weapons and equipment are consistent with recent information obtained by BNUB indicating that uniforms, 9mm pistols and AK-47 assault rifles had disappeared from some military and police installations. In February, in the city of Rumonge, in Bururi province, it was reported that two senior officers of the armed forces of Burundi supervised the firearm training, instructing members of the Imbonerakure who participated in the training to “remain vigilant” and “be ready.” 

3. Since the beginning of the year, members of the Imbonerakure have been markedly active in politically-motivated violence targeting their political opponents. BNUB has documented 30 acts of politically motivated violence reportedly perpetrated by the Imbonerakure over the last three months, compared to 50 in all of 2013. During the same period, there has been no documented violence committed by youth wings of other political parties; however, there were some confrontations between the Imbonerakure and the respective youth wings of the Front pour la Démocratie au Burundi(FRODEBU), of the Forces Nationales de Liberation (FNL) and of the Union pour le Progrès National (UPRONA). The serious confrontations between the Imbonerakure and the FRODEBU youth group on 23 March and 1 April in the locality of Bugabira, in Kirundo province prompted a joint visit of the Ministers of Interior, Public Security and Defence to address tensions in that area. 

4. While other political parties also maintain youth wings, the Imbonerakure appears to be unique in its engagement in a systematic campaign of harassment of their political opponents. In rural areas, where members of the Imbonerakure have expanded their reach, the group has been working closely with local administrative authorities, functioning as de facto local security forces, reportedly with complete impunity. Reported incidents include intimidation, violence, disruption of political meetings and physical assaults. Members of the Imbonerakure are typically not arrested. If detained, they are immediately released following the intervention of local authorities. 

5. Meanwhile, the political situation remains tense. The Government and opposition parties have taken only limited steps to implement their respective commitments under the Political Roadmap towards the 2015 elections. 

Madam President, 

6. In light of these developments, the Secretary-General met with President Nkurunziza, on the margins of the EU-AU Summit in Brussels on 3 April. President Nkurunziza stressed the progress achieved in Burundi and noted that the cycle of massacres in the country is over. He further noted the need to focus on poverty reduction and encouraged the Secretary-General not to listen to “false information from some political parties”. On 6 April, the Secretary-General met with the First Vice-President of Burundi, Mr. Prosper Bazombanza, in Kigali, on the margins of the 20th commemoration of the Genocide in Rwanda. The Secretary-General expressed his strong concerns over activities of Burundian youth groups, urging the relevant national authorities to investigate these reports. I also met yesterday with the Minister of Interior and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs of Burundi, who rejected the reports on the activities of the Imbonerakure as alarmist, arguing these were propaganda by opposition parties and the media. 

7. The team of Special Envoys for the Great Lakes region, under the leadership of SESG Mary Robinson, wrote to President Nkurunziza on 31 March, expressing concerns about the risks of political radicalisation and condemning firmly any form of violence and attempt to destabilise Burundi by any political party. At the same time, they called on President Nkurunziza to use his leadership to open political space and promote a conducive environment for the 2015 elections. 

8. The Secretary-General has also been engaging regional leaders, seeking their support in encouraging the Government of Burundi to take concrete steps to ensure youth are not exposed to political manipulation that could lead to acts of violence and intimidation, notably as Burundi prepares for elections in 2015. 

9. Finally, the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, will be in Bujumbura this week on a previously-scheduled visit, and will follow up with the Government of Burundi on the above developments and in particular, the activities of Imbonerakure, offering UN support to prevent large scale violence. 

Madam President, 

10. As this Council noted in Resolution 2137 renewing the mandate of BNUB until the end of the year, Burundi has undeniably made significant progress in terms of peace and stability since the darkest days of the civil war. As President Nkurunziza told the Secretary-General in Brussels, there is indeed a need to focus on poverty reduction, including through ongoing international support. But the understandable focus on economic development can go hand-in-hand with political liberties and public safety. 

11. It is in the spirit of this Council’s commitment to peace and stability in Burundi that we asked to brief you today. As Burundi prepares for 2015 elections, we hope Burundi’s many friends and partners can encourage Burundi’s leaders to demonstrate through tangible steps their continued commitment to political pluralism and democratic process – the fundamental principles that characterized the Arusha accords and, as the Minister of Interior reminded me yesterday, that are embodied in Burundi’s constitution. 

Thank You. 

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