UN ends electoral observation mission in Burundi

The United Nations (UN) Wednesday ended the UN Electoral Observation Mission in Burundi (MENUB), committing to remain on Burundi's side in other programs through the UN country team.

Several officials including Burundian senior authorities and diplomats accredited to Burundi attended the ceremony in the compound hosting the UN agencies here in the east African country's capital Bujumbura.

"Activities of MENUB were a success. This is an opportunity to express my gratitude toward the government of Burundi, the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) and Burundian people for welcoming the MENUB. Despite the end of activities of the MENUB, the UN will remain in Burundi and will continue to support the country," said Tadjoudine Ali-Diabacte, Deputy-Director of the UN Electoral Assistance Division at the UN Headquarters who read Ban Ki-moon's message during the ceremony.

For his part, MENUB Deputy-Head Issaka Souna reiterated his gratitude to all institutions and people who supported activities of the MENUB.

"This is an opportunity offered to me to thank all the national institutions and the people of Burundi who supported activities of the MENUB despite some difficulties. We thank the security and home affairs ministries for ensuring security to our staff during their deployment to observe elections countrywide," said Souna.

The representative of the Burundian government in that ceremony thanked the support of the UN during Burundi's electoral process. Endit