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Concerned at Burundi violence, Security Council members condemn use of force
26 October -- Expressing concern over the continuing violence in Burundi, members of the Security Council have condemned the use of force in settling disputes in the country.

In a statement made on behalf of the members following closed-door consultations Wednesday evening, Council President Martin Andjaba of Namibia told reporters that for the peace process to work, all Burundians must benefit from the Arusha Agreement. "The first benefit should be peace," he said.

The Arusha Agreement was signed on 28 August by some - but not all - of the parties to the conflict. In the statement, Council members reiterated their call on all armed groups that remained outside the Burundi peace process to cease hostilities and participate fully in that process. They also called on all members of the international community with special ties to Burundi to influence armed groups to join the peace process and to assist with "achieving the compromises necessary to make peace work."

Ambassador Andjaba also expressed gratitude on behalf of the Council members to former South African President Nelson Mandela, the Facilitator of the Burundi peace process.

"Members of the Council were encouraged to learn that Facilitator Mandela has called for meetings in South Africa with both the Force for the Defence of Democracy and the National Liberation Front," the Namibian Ambassador said. He expressed the hope that Mr. Mandela's "tireless participation can help identify the way to a ceasefire."

At the same time, Council members emphasized that the primary responsibility for achieving lasting peace in Burundi lay with the country's people, noting that international support would depend on the political will of the Burundian parties to establish peace.

Council members also welcomed steps taken by the Secretary-General to support peace and reconstruction in Burundi and encouraged the international community to contribute to the Trust Fund for Burundi.

In a related development, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi, Marie-Thérèse Kéita Bocoum, appealed yesterday to all parties in the country to protect the civilian population. In a statement released in Geneva, she strongly condemned the attacks carried out by the belligerent parties, including massacres of civilians, assassinations, arrests and arbitrary detentions.