UN closes its political office in Burundi

Bujumbura, Saturday. The United Nations closed their political mission in Burundi Friday after two decades of peace-building following civil war, but amid criticism they leave as tensions grow ahead of elections next year.

Burundi, a small nation in Africa’s Great Lakes region, emerged in 2006 from a brutal 13-year civil war, but its political climate remains fractious in the run-up to presidential polls in six months’ time.

Speaking after a flag lowering ceremony at the UN Office in Burundi (BNUB) base, Burundi’s Foreign Minister Laurent Kavakure said the closure was a “historic moment” that marked the country’s transition from a post-conflict state to “the next stage of development”.

At its peak, the UN had some 5,500 peacekeepers in the country, but as the mission mandate changed and work was wound down, it was left with just 50 largely political officers.

UN aid agencies remain in the country, one of the poorest in the region. But civil society groups and opposition politicians opposed the withdrawal, saying it was premature with democracy still under threat.

President Pierre Nkurunziza, in power since 2005, is expected to run for a third term in office despite opponents’ claims that that would violate Burundi’s constitution.

Relations between the BNUB mission and the government were also difficult. (AFP)