Government to request UNSG to replace its staff in Burundi

Burundi First Vice President Gaston Sindimwo said this 7 March, the UN staff are manipulated by the opposition and give wrong reports to the UN Secretary General. He calls for their replacement.

Léonce Ngendakumana: “The government accuses the opposition because it has been unable to give the reality of what is happening in Burundi”.

“Burundi Government plans to request the UN Secretary General to replace its staff operating in Burundi”, said Gaston Sindimwo, First Vice President during his visit to Bugendana site of displaced people in Gitega central province. He says the UN staff in Burundi works on wrong information given by some politicians and sends wrong reports to the UN Secretary General. “Taking into account the recent remarks by UN secretary General on what happened in Burundi, one may think what he said is a reflection of the reality in Burundi”, says Sindimwo.

He, however, recognizes the efforts made by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in peace building in Burundi. “We acknowledged the efforts made by UNFPA to restore peace and security in Mugamba Commune of Bururi Province. The youths who were manipulated, are those who preserve peace and security in their areas”, he says.

Léonce Ngendakumana, Deputy Chairman of Sahwanya Frodebu party and Chairman of the Alliance for Democratic Changes (ADC-Ikibiri), says the government is losing time. “It accuses the opposition because it is unable to give the reality of what is happening in Burundi especially about the killings, disappearances, poverty, famine…” he says.

He says Burundi Government doesn’t understand how the International Organizations operate. “There are rules and conventions that partners must respect”, he says.

Ngendakumana says Burundi Government has already dismissed six UN representatives since 2005 starting with Carolyn McAskie and Jamal Benomar recently. “It is said that they were accused of disrupting security in Burundi”, he says.
The chairman of ADC Ikibiri says they have been victims of their contribution to end the crisis in Burundi. “ Carolyn McAskie had suggested an urgent need to establish a UN framework composed of UN and AU staff to help the current government not to relapse into violence”, he says. Ngendakumana also says, Jamal Benomar, former UN Representative in Burundi, is a victim of his suggestions to put an end to the current crisis.

François Xavier Ndaruzaniye, Chairman of “Ligue Izere Ntiwihebure”, says his organization is aware of the temporary suspension of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCR) due to “wrong reports” about Burundi produced and sent from the country. “The UN Staff is not working because it was temporarily suspended, it is necessary that the UN Special Advisor in the Great Lakes Region, Jamal Benomar be replaced so that the new ambassador can come to negotiate the headquarters agreement. So, the office can still resume its activities in Burundi”, he says.