Burundi Minister of Human Rights says the Inquiry Commission on Burundi is manipulated and the extension of its mandate is not the government’s concern.
Martin Nivyabandi: “The Government of Burundi will never collaborate with the Inquiry Commission on Burundi”
“The government of Burundi will never recognize the commission,” says Martin Nivyabandi, Burundi Minister of Human Rights and Social Integration adding that Burundi will never collaborate with the members of commission.
Mr. Nivyabandi says the commission was established by “foreigners” to destabilize and intimidate the government of Burundi.
“Their reports are biased and always accuse the government of Burundi of violating human rights.”
For him, Burundi is peaceful and political parties operate in perfect harmony.
The Burundian Minister of Human Rights says the extension of the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi is not the concern of Burundi government.
“The organizations which signed the letter want to tarnish the image of Burundi,” says Mr. Nivyabandi.
They want to show that the government of Burundi is not doing anything to guarantee human rights to the citizens, he also says.
In a joint letter addressed to the permanent and observer state members of the United Nations Human Rights Council-UNHRC on August 2nd, some national, regional and international civil society organizations ask for the extension of the mandate of the Inquiry Commission on Burundi for one year.
“The pre-electoral context is likely to escalate political tensions and we are concerned that there may be a subsequent rise in human rights violations,” reads the letter.
With 2020 elections approaching, the investigations carried out by the Commission remain vitally important, they add.
The same civil society organizations say human rights groups have documented abuses against members of the opposition including killings, arbitrary arrests, beatings and intimidation.
“The UNHRC members and observers should support the extension of the mandate of the Inquiry Commission on Burundi for a further year until September 2020,” they say.
For them, the UNHRC should request the Commission to make a report specifically addressing the issue of elections and the risk factors for human rights violations.
The Commission of Inquiry on Burundi was established by Human Rights Council Resolution 33/24 of 30 September 2016.
The government of Burundi has refused to collaborate with it since its establishment.
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