Nation on brink of civil war, warns UN

GENEVA: A day after the UN warned Burundi may be heading for civil war, the UN’s top human rights body is discussing the rising violence in the country, with the United States spearheading a diplomatic push aiming to deploy a mission of experts and launch an investigation into abuses against civilians.

Thursday’s special session of the Human Rights Council comes just days after at least 87 people were killed in attacks on military facilities in the capital, Bujumbura and weeks after Burundi was elected into the 47-member rights body based in Geneva.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned on Wednesday the country is on the brink of a civil war that could engulf the region.

Burundi has been in turmoil since the April announcement that President Pierre Nkurunziza would seek a third term in office, which he won in a disputed election in July. More than 300 people have been killed, about 215,000 others have fled the country since April, and violence has escalated.

The UN chief expressed alarm at the “chilling” escalation in violence between government forces and armed fighters.

At least 87 people, including eight security men, died on Dec 11 when an unidentified group of more than 150 people attacked three military facilities. Rights groups say this was the worst violence since the crisis over presidential term limits began with street protests that boiled over into the attempted military coup in May.

Mr Ban told a news conference his special adviser, Jamal Benomar, will travel to the region before the end of the week to put pressure on the African Union, regional groups, neighbouring countries and Burundi’s government to urgently start a political dialogue involving all parties.

“We must do all we can to prevent mass violence and act decisively should it erupt,’’ he said.

Mr Ban said the UN may have to ramp up its presence and activities depending on the situation. He recommended that Mr Benomar’s mission be beefed up, a process already underway. He also outlined two other options to the UN Security Council — a political mission and a peacekeeping force.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador Samantha Power called the situation in Burundi “horrific” and stressed that there is currently no dialogue among the parties on the ground. She warned of the risk that the conflict will become “more of an ethnic conflict than a political one”.

Ms Power said Mr Ban will discuss the crisis with the Security Council later on Tuesday. Many council members are eager to see the UN speed up its contingency planning, she said.