S&D Euro MPs today voiced concerns about the risks of a new ethnic clash in Burundi.
The president of the S&D Group, Gianni Pittella, stated:
"The decision of the Burundi president, Pierre Nkurunziza, to run for a third term – without regard for the Arusha agreements provisions – threatens to plunge the country into a situation of very dangerous political and ethnic instability. The international community must not remain silent.
Not only is the democratisation of Burundi at stake, but also of the entire Great Lakes Region, where the situation remains precarious. It has to be clear that the EU Election Observation mission in Burundi will have the capacity to assure that a fair democratic competition takes place.
"We urge the Burundi authorities to guarantee the right to peaceful demonstrations, to refrain from interfering with the right to freedom of expression and democratic freedom of the press. The violence used against opposition protests, the recent closing of APR radio, as well as the arrest of prominent human rights activists, such as Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, cannot be accepted.
"We are pleased that, on our initiative, the European parliament will discuss the situation in Burundi, this week in Strasbourg. We will ask for a declaration from the High Representative of the European Union for foreign affairs, Federica Mogherini, followed by a debate at the plenary in Strasbourg."
