The Special Adviser to the Secretary-General for Conflict Prevention (including Burundi), Jamal Benomar, briefed the Security Council today on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2303 [29 July 2016]. Below is his statement after the briefing:
 

I just briefed the Security Council on the status of the implementation of resolution 2303. As you are aware, the Government of Burundi rejected key provisions of the resolution shortly after it was adopted.  

Council members have requested that I travel to Burundi in order to consult with the Government, to hear their positions and concerns, to share the views of the Council, and to clarify our objectives. I will endeavour to consult constructively with the Government in order to work towards a consensual way forward.

What started as a political crisis can only be resolved by a political solution. The Burundians proved this themselves a decade ago, when they emerged from a long civil war that saw hundreds of thousands of people killed and displaced.

With the support of the region and the international community, Burundian stakeholders worked together then to come to an agreement that provided a sound framework for a stable future.  In the years that followed, Burundi made important strides towards peace and development. As an important contributor to UN and AU peacekeeping troops, Burundi itself helped other countries to find stability.

Burundi’s future rests in Burundi’s hands. I am confident that with political will and leadership, the Burundians can find a way out of this crisis through dialogue and compromise.

Thank you.