Security Council Press Statement on Burundi

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Raimonda Murmokaitė (Lithuania):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the killing of Zedi Feruzi, leader of the opposition Union pour la paix et le développement (UPD) Zigamibanga party in Burundi, and his bodyguard, on 23 May 2015 in Bujumbura.  The members of the Security Council also condemned the grenade attack in Bujumbura’s central market on 22 May 2015 that left two dead and many others injured.

The Security Council expressed their deepest condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.  They urged the Burundian authorities to swiftly bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their call on all Burundian stakeholders to demonstrate their sense of responsibility and exercise calm and restraint in the interest of peace and reconciliation in Burundi.  They called on the Burundian authorities to take concrete steps to prevent further violence, whilst respecting fundamental freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.

The members of the Security Council called on all Burundian stakeholders to pursue the consultative political dialogue facilitated by the Special Envoy for the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes region, Said Djinnit, and representatives of the African Union, the East African Community, the East Africa Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (EAC-COMESA) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region to create an environment conducive to peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in Burundi in the spirit of the Arusha Agreements.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their intent to respond to violent acts that threaten peace and security in Burundi.