Security Council calls on all sides in Burundi to ‘preserve peace and reconciliation’

Expressing serious concern about reports of a possible coup attempt in Burundi and the arrests of political leaders, the Security Council today called on the Government and all parties to preserve peace in the strife-torn African nation, and backed a call by Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the authorities to follow the rule of law in their investigations.

“The members of the Security Council… called on the Government and all parties in Burundi to preserve peace and national reconciliation and to promote social concord in their country,” said Ambassador Nana Effah-Apenteng of Ghana, which holds the revolving Council presidency for August, as he read out a press statement to reporters.

“They encouraged the Government to follow due process during its investigations surrounding these events,” he added, referring to the reports of a possible coup attempt. Mr. Annan expressed similar concerns earlier this week, when he also called on all Burundi’s people to work together to consolidate the fragile democracy in the country.

The Council also reiterated their support for the efforts of the Regional Peace Initiative on Burundi and the South African Facilitation to broker a peace agreement between the Government and the Palipehutu-Forces Nationales de Libération (FNL), the last remaining major rebel group.

Before issuing the statement, the Council heard a briefing from the acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Nureldin Satti, who also discussed the setting up of a UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) from the beginning of next year to replace the UN Operation (ONUB). The mandate of ONUB, which was established in May 2004 as Burundi emerged from 12 years of civil war, is set to expire on 1 January 2007.