Burundi, an East African country, has been going through a period of turbulence for several years. After the political crisis of 2015, marked by demonstrations and violent repression, the country is now trying to reintegrate itself onto the international scene. However, despite its recent election to the UN Human Rights Council, Burundi faces a new disappointment with the renewal of the mandate of the special rapporteur on human rights for a period of one year.
The Burundian government hoped that this mandate would not be renewed, arguing that the situation has improved since Evariste Ndayishimiye came to power three years ago. However, the decision taken by the Human Rights Council in Geneva was a real blow to Gitega, the capital of Burundi. Twenty member countries out of 47 voted in favor of extending the mandate, while 17 abstained and only 10 voted against.
The Special Rapporteur highlighted ongoing human rights concerns in Burundi, including the reduction of space for civil society and impunity for continued human rights violations. The Burundian delegation strongly criticized this decision, calling it a politicization of the UN mechanism.
This decision adds to tensions between Burundi and the international community. Indeed, the Burundian authorities refused to cooperate with the UN expert and closed the United Nations Human Rights Office in the country in 2019. This situation led some countries to express their concern and demand that the Burundian government take concrete measures to improve the human rights situation.
Despite this disappointment, some civil society actors welcomed the renewal of the mandate of the special rapporteur. They believe this brings international recognition to the serious human rights violations that persist in Burundi. This also highlights the need for the Burundian government to take measures to improve the situation and promote respect for the fundamental rights of its population.
In conclusion, Burundi continues to face human rights challenges. The decision to renew the mandate of the special rapporteur for a period of one year shows that the international community remains concerned about the situation in the country. It is now up to the Burundian government to take concrete measures to improve this situation and advance the protection of human rights.