Burundi: Electoral violence - Key Findings Crisis Overview

Crisis Overview Priorities for Protection support for unarmed civilians and people fleeing Socio-political tensions are rising in Burundi with the approach of parliamentary and humanitarian Burundi for neighbouring countries and areas outside of the presidential elections in May and June, and the constitutional court’s approval of intervention capital. [...] Rift among security forces: The risk of a coup is rising as a rift is growing between Key Information the police and the military: on 2 May, the Defence Minister stated that the army would not support a violation of the Constitution. [...] Fragile political insitutions: The situation is aggravated by lack of confidence in The Government has announced it is ready to free detainees, allow radio, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and strategies by the remove the arrest warrant on protest leaders, if protests stop (local media, 05/05/2015). [...] The UN Electoral Observation Mission in Burundi (MENUB) is mandated to follow and report on the presidential, parliamentary, and local elections, but the Government has Other Countries’ Involvement stated that its mandate is limited, and does not cover validating the results (UN). [...] In the kick-off to the presidential media leaders and associations of media professionals in their support on the campaign, political violence included grenade and arson attacks, and killings of both prevention of violence (Croix-Rouge du Burundi 04/03/2015).