The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) has pulled its headquarters out of Burundi following persistent violence to ensure the safety and security of its staff, it said. The bloc brings together 12 countries, including Burundi, Angola, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia. In a statement released yesterday, the ICGLR warned the situation in Burundi “is seriously worrying”. The regional bloc, based in Burundi since 2007, was formed to boost peace, security, stability and development in Africa’s Great Lakes region. It said its headquarters have been temporarily relocated to the Zambia capital Lusaka. “Every week, bodies are discovered in Bujumbura; there are also shootings and explosions all over the capital,” said ICGLR executive secretary Ntumba Louaba in the statement, warning of a “cycle of violence.” Violence broke out in Burundi in April after President Pierre Nkurunziza launched a bid for re-election, despite concerns over the legality of such a move. The situation has forced over 220,000 Burundians, mostly women and children, to flee to neighbouring countries. Rwanda alone is now home to over 90,000 Burundian refugees. Louaba said the situation in Burundi, particularly in Bujumbura, has worsened and remains volatile. Media reports indicated that insurgents this week launched a failed mortar attack on Burundi’s presidential palace, in one of the first known such attempts in months of anti-government unrest. Meanwhile, regional civil society organisations have petitioned the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to urgently undertake a number of actions within its mandate to contain the situation in Burundi. In a petition this week, the civil society representatives want EALA to make strong recommendation to the East African Community Heads of State Summit preventing Burundi from assuming the rotating chairmanship of the bloc until its government resolves the political, human rights and humanitarian crisis in the country. Petitioners are calling on EALA to condemn the arbitrary killings and the excessive use of force by security organs and members of a pro-government militia group, Imbonerakure. Citing the murder of the former head of intelligence services, General Adolphe Nshimirimana, the petitioners claim that although Burundian authorities ordered investigations into the killings, no case had been concluded. Over 130 persons have died in the unrest. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday urged Burundian President Nkurunziza to revive peace talks with his opponents to prevent the East African nation from plunging into a full-blown war. Last week, the UN high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, asked the Security Council to consider all possible options, including asset freezes and travel bans for Burundi government officials, to stem the violence. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
