Paul Murphy
Question:435. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the current situation in Burundi, and the violence used against protesters. [17717/15]
View answerWednesday, 6 May 2015
Questions (435)
Written answers
I am very concerned about the deteriorating situation in Burundi, and condemn the violence of recent days. This has involved a wave of killings, militias acting with impunity, arbitrary arrests, intimidation, closure of media outlets and targeting of human rights defenders.
Burundi has experienced recurring violence over the years since its independence in 1962. The signing of the Arusha Peace Agreement in 2000 was a significant step forward in efforts to build lasting peace and stability in the country. The adoption of a new Constitution in 2005, establishing a power-sharing arrangement between ethnic groups, was another important milestone.
Given slow but steady progress over the past fifteen years, the violence is particularly worrying, and it was avoidable. The street protests arose in response to a decision by Burundi’s ruling party, the National Council for the Defense of Democracy, to name the incumbent President, Pierre Nkurunziza, as its candidate for a third presidential term in elections scheduled for June. Whether or not this breaches the term-limits established by the Arusha Agreement, as has been claimed, is now subject to a review by the Burundian Constitutional Court.
It is critically important that Burundi now acts to embrace a process of peaceful democratic transition by ensuring that next month's elections are demonstrably free and credible.
I am following the situation through our Ambassador in Dar-es-Salaam, who is also accredited to Burundi. I share the strong concern that over 20,000 Burundians have fled the country over the past month, mainly to Rwanda. Our Embassy in Dar-es-Salaam is closely monitoring refugee movements and engaging with the UN High Commission for Refugees, which has undertaken local contingency planning in case of a more significant outflow of refugees.
In 2014, Ireland provided approximately €1 million to NGO partners, Concern Worldwide and Civicus, for their work in Burundi.
In consultation with our partners at EU level, we will continue to closely monitor developments in Burundi. Two Irish nominees will participate in an EU Election Observation Mission for the June elections.