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2nd LD Writethru: UN Security Council stresses need for credible, peaceful elections in Burundi

Xinhua, February 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

The UN Security Council on Wednesday stressed "the crucial need for a free, transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful electoral process" in Burundi in 2015, saying that "the significant progress (in the country) is not reversed."

The 15-nation UN council, in a presidential statement issued after a meeting on Burundi, said, "The Security Council welcomes the significant progress made by Burundi since the adoption of the Arusha Agreement in 2000, notably in the restoration of security and stability in the country." The spirit of the Arusha Agreement helped to sustain almost a decade of peace in Burundi, the council noted.

"The Security Council notes that there remain challenges to overcome to ensure that the significant progress is not reversed, especially in the context of the 2015 elections," the statement said. "The Security Council stresses, in this regard, the crucial need for a free, transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful electoral process in 2015 and sustained attention to such a process."

Burundi is scheduled to hold communal and legislative elections on May 26 followed by presidential elections on June 26 and senatorial elections on Aug. 24.

One unique point of Burundi's 2015 elections is that the process will be monitored by UN electoral observers in conformity with a resolution of the Security Council.

"The council welcomes continued engagement by international and regional partners, including the African Union, in support of the reform agenda and the electoral process in Burundi," the statement said. "The Security Council expresses its concern regarding the recent events that occurred in the province of Cibitoke, strongly condemns such attempts to resort to violence for political means, and stresses the importance of guaranteeing a peaceful electoral process."

The fighting that occurred in the Burundian province of Cibitoke near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC) left 99 people killed, a spokesman with Burundian Army said in early January.

In early February, at least 20 gunmen attacked a school at Gasenyi in Buganda, in the province of Cibitoke, 50 kilometers west of the Burundian capital Bujumbura, reports said.

"The Security Council expresses its deep concern at the high number of reported victims resulting from this incident, looks forward to the outcome of an impartial investigation by the government of Burundi, and stresses the need for it to be independent and impartial, led by competent national institutions, " the statement said. Endite