Security Council voices support for transitional government

The UN Security Council said on Wednesday that the creation of a broad-based transitional government in Burundi would mark a "critical turning point" in the country's quest for peace. "The installation of a broad-based government on the basis of an internationally sanctioned peace process makes armed rebellion an unacceptable means of political expression," Jean-David Levitte of France, the Council's president, said. He called on the Forces for National Liberation (FNL), the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) and the Burundi government to observer strictly the rights of the civilian population and other provisions of international humanitarian law, UN News reported. The Council called on all countries to end their support to the FLN and the FDD, and urged all UN member states to encourage the armed groups to join the peace process. Additionally, Council called on the region's countries to support the transitional government by expanding bilateral and regional cooperation. In its statement, the Council appealed to the Burundian parties to quickly reach agreement on the establishment of a special protection unit entrusted solely with the police function of providing personal security for politicians returning from exile. It welcomed the convening of a pre-implementation stakeholders meeting in Arusha, Tanzania, and urged the international community to provide urgent support for the training and deployment of that special protection unit. The Council also called on donors to increase humanitarian assistance to Burundi and to accelerate its delivery.