The UN Security Council [official website] requested on Friday that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official profile] consult with the government of Burundi and members of the African Union about an option that would enable the council to deploy a UN police component to Burundi. The resolution expressed concern [press release] over increasing violence in Burundi and the humanitarian consequences that may arise and seeks to obtain a list of options from Ban within the next 15 days. The council is also urging Ban to increase engagement between the UN and Burundi and expressed an intent to take measures against any violence contributing to the violence or hindering peacemaking efforts.

Violence in Burundi began in the wake of President Pierre Nkurunziza’s announcement that he would seek a third term of office, for which he was elected [JURIST report] in July. Last month UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein also expressed concern over increased violence and rights violations in Burundi, and called for an “inclusive political dialogue” [JURIST report] to end the 11-year struggle. Speaking to the council about his trip to Burundi last month, the secretary-general stated, “I cannot stress enough the profound humanitarian consequences that political unrest, violence and impunity carry for the population.” In January the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report stating that Burundian authorities barred entry [JURIST report] into Burundi to independent rights experts dispatched by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate violations in the nation. Also in January Zeid warned [JURIST report] of increasing violence in Burundi. In December the UN Human Rights Council approved [JURIST report] a resolution to dispatch experts to investigate human rights violations in Burundi, condemning violence in the country, use of excessive force by officials and restrictions on freedoms. In November the UN Security Council unanimously adopted [JURIST report] a resolution condemning the political violence and killings currently afflicting Burundi.