Senior UN official appeals to Burundi conflict parties to respect civilian rights

A senior United Nations rights official today urged the fighting parties in Burundi to negotiate a peaceful settlement in light of the suffering of the civilian population and appealed to the belligerents to respect the right to life, security and physical integrity.

Marie-Thérèse Keita Bocoum, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on Burundi, made the appeal after an upsurge in the fighting and the deterioration of the security situation, especially new confrontations which started two days ago in the rural province of Bujumbura and in the capital.

The scale of the violations of human rights as a result of the conflict was so grave that it was imperative and urgent for the fighting to halt, Ms. Keita Bocoum said.

She also called on the international community to continue all efforts to get the armed groups and the government to start negotiations.