UN mission in Burundi denounces attacks against staff by ex-employees

The United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) has strongly condemned recent acts of violence against its staff by local ex-employees of the predecessor UN mission in the poor African country who say they still have contractual claims with the operation.

The physical attacks against staff and BINUB’s assets late last month occurred even though the office had given assurances it would work with national authorities to consider the claims of some former local employees or contractors of ONUB, which operated from 2004 to the end of 2006, the mission said yesterday.

In a press statement issued in the capital, Bujumbura, BINUB pledged to assess each legitimate claim on a case-by-case basis to determine if it has merit, stressing it would conform strictly with international laws and regulations.