The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today issued the following statement:

“Canada is deeply concerned by the escalating violence and incidents of brutality reported in Bujumbura in recent days. We are also alarmed by the high number of victims killed under circumstances that remain unclear. These violent acts and the ongoing repression that continues to violate human rights must stop.

“Canada calls on the Burundian government to engage in dialogue with political groups and civil society. We urge the East African Community, the African Union and their members to work actively to facilitate such discussions immediately.

“Canada demands that the Burundian government respect the fundamental rights of Burundians, which Burundi’s leaders have failed to do in the last few months. Canada continues to call for calm and will follow the actions of the Burundian government closely to ensure that the violence in the country, one of the poorest in the world, does not escalate further.”

Canadians are urged to leave while commercial means are still available, and provided it is safe to do so. Canadians who choose to remain in the country despite this advisory are strongly encouraged to register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service, available on Travel.gc.ca.

Canadian citizens in Burundi requiring emergency consular assistance should contact the High Commission of Canada to Kenya in Nairobi at 254 (20) 366 3000, or call Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre collect at +1 613 996 8885. An email can also be sent to sos@international.gc.ca.