UN office warns of deteriorating situation in Burundi

In light of recent assassinations, the UN Human Rights Office said Friday that the situation in Burundi continues to deteriorate, with at least 96 people killed, mostly among the opposition, since the beginning of election-related violence in late April.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that a member of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) , the ruling party in Burundi, and his wife were killed in their car as they were on their way home in Bujumbura Rural Province Thursday, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary- general, citing an OHCHR source.

Moreover, over the past two weeks, at least seven members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party have been killed by unidentified assailants, said Dujarric.

"The office says that such attacks are indicative of a climate of reprisals, but also a worrying sign that some parts of the opposition are increasingly resorting to violence," said Dujarric.

It also said that at least 600 people were arrested and detained during this period, although a good number of them have since been released.

There have been at least 60 cases of torture and many more cases of other ill-treatment in police and intelligence (SNR) detention facilities.

Earlier this month, Burundi witnessed two high-profile assassinations. The attempted assassination of prominent human rights defender Mbonimpa came one day after the killing of Nshimirimana, former Burundian intelligence chief.

Given the current crisis, OHCHR is urging all sides to resume dialogue before the situation spirals completely out of control. It also called on leaders on all sides to take concrete steps to renounce the use of violence and to resolve differences peacefully, said Dujarric.

"It stresses that where violations and abuses have occurred, there needs to be prompt investigations with a view to bringing the perpetrators to account and justice for victims," said Dujarric.

Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza won his third term in a controversial presidential election in late July as candidate of the ruling party, amid months of unrest sparked by his reelection bid. The opposition said his re-election was illegal as it violated the constitution that sets a two-term limit for presidency. However, the country's constitutional court ruled that the president's first term doesn't count as he was appointed by a parliament not elected by the people. Endite