UGANDA

Permanent Mission of Uganda

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To the United Nations

New York

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STATEMENT
BY
AMBASSADOR RICHARD NDUHUURA
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE
SECURITY COUNICIL BRIEFING ON THE SITUATION IN BURUNDI

NOVEMBER 9, 2 0 1 5
New York

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Mr. President
I take this opportunity to congratulate you and your country-United Kingdom
upon assumption of the Security Council Presidency for this month and for
organizing this important meeting on the security situation in Burundi. I also thank

you for inviting Uganda to brief the Council on the East African Community
efforts to facilitate dialogue in Burundio
Until recently, Burundi had been a success story of the efforts undertaken by the
region to address insecurity in the country. The efforts of the region led to the
signing of the Arusha Peace Accord, and the Heads of State of the countries of
the region have continued to provide their support for the peace building efforts
in Burundi.

Fifteen years after the signing of Arusha Peace Accord, all the country's political
leaders, including those in exile, must aim to find a common cause and commit

to build on the stability that was ushered in by the said Agreement.

Mr. President,

Uganda underscores the role of the regional and sub-regional organizations in

peaceful settlement of conflicts in line with chapter VIII of the Charter of the
United Nations. United Nations and the international community should support
efforts of the regional and sub-regional organizations in addressing challenges
relating to peace and security, human rights and development.
On 31st May, 2015, an emergency Summit of the East African Community on the
situation in Burundi was convened. The Summit was also attended by H.E Jacob
Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa and guarantor of the Arusha
Peace Accord, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, UN SecretaryGeneral's Special Envoy on the Great Lakes Region and Executive Secretary of
the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. The Heads of State
were concerned about the violence in Bujumbura and other parts of Burundi
which resulted into the deaths of many people, influx of refugees in neighboring
countries and destruction of property. The Summit called upon all parties to stop
violence and exercise restraint.

At the 3rd Extra-ordinary Summit of the Heads of State of the East African
Community (EAC) held on July 6, 2015, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of

the Republic of Uganda was requested to lead and facilitate dialogue at the
highest level in a bid to find a lasting solution to the political situation and ensure
that peace returns to Burundi. Accordingly, from ]4 -15 July, 2015, President
Museveni was in Burundi and met all the stakeholders in a bid to set momentum

for dialogue. The President has also been in contact with the UN SecretaryGeneral and Leaders in the region.
Subsequently, President Museveni delegated Hon. Chrispus Kiyonga, Uganda's
Minister of Defence to continue facilitating the dialogue in Burundi. The Minister
on behalf of the President travelled to Bujumbura and chaired stakeholders
meetings on 16, 17 and 18 July, 2015. In his engagements, the Minister
underscored the need to find a durable political solution through dialogue
among all parties and called upon them to desist from incitement and violence.
He left Bujumbura and elections for the President took place on 21 July, 2015.
On 26 July, 2015, H.E Pierre Nkurunziza sent his Special Envoys to Kampala, Hon
Nyebanda, Speaker of Burundi Parliament accompanied by Hon Agathon
Rwasa, first deputy Speaker and two other Members of Parliament. It was further
agreed that the EAC mandated dialogue must continue.

Mr. President,

Uganda remains committed to facilitating the dialogue as mandated by the

East African Community Heads of State. In this regard, Hon Kiyonga, recently
visited Bujumbura from 28- 29 October, 2015 to follow up with his assignment in
Burundi.

He held meetings with the following officials;

1. The President of the Senate and his two deputies,
2. The President of the National Assembly with his two deputies, including
Hon. Agathon Rwasa who comes from the opposition,
3. Hon. Minister of Home Affairs and
4. The Commission appointed by President Nkuru7iza to conduct the InterBurundi dialogue.

In all the meetings he held with the officials mentioned above, the Minister of
Defence got consistent and similar messages that while they welcome the EAC
intervention, their preference is for the EAC to play an advisory role to the
Commission.

Hon Kiyonga reiterated that the East African Community facilitation efforts
would proceed as originally conceived but would indeed work with the
commission Given the Minister's position, the officials promised to get back
after consultations with their Principal, H.E Pierre Nkurunziza, President of the
Republic of Burundio We are therefore optimistic that there will be progress in
light of the recent meetings held in Bujumbura.

The next Summit of the East African Community Heads of State is scheduled to
take place on 30th November, 2015 and certainly the security situation in Burundi
will be on the agenda

Mr. President,

It is important to note that, the region has remained actively seized of the
matter, and recently, on 20 October, 2015, the International Conference on the
Great Lakes region held a meeting of the Ministers of Defence in Luanda,
Angola, which discussed among others the security situation in Burundio The
meeting in its recommendations;
. Appreciated the efforts of the EAC Mediation process led by H.E Yoweri
Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda in search of peace and

stability in Burundi,
Welcomed the willingness of the Government of the Republic of Burundi
to engage in an all-inclusive inter-Burundi dialogue to be conducted in
and outside Burundi under various thematic areas in consideration of
peace and unity required by the people of Burundi.
Equally, the African Union Peace and Security Council has continuously

demonstrated its ability to follow closely the security situation in Burundi as

reflected in its recently adopted Communiqu6 of 17 October, 2015.

All these regional efforts are consistent with chapter Vl and VIII of the United
Nations Charter.
Mr. Presidenf,

We stress the importance of coordination among international and regional

efforts in supporting dialogue in Burundi.
All efforts must be focused on a credible and inclusive dialogue aimed at
reestablishment of trust and reconciliation that will ensure confidence building
among all parties and return of security and stability to spur development in
Burundi.

m fhank you for your atfenfion.