Situation in Burundi

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: Angola
Delegate Name: Mallory Snyder
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy

The Vice-President of Angola, Mr. Manuel Domingos Vicente, recently stated, “We [The country of Angola] reaffirm our determination to continue to support and promote dialogue, peace, security and stability in Central Africa and throughout the Great Lakes region.” Angola fully supports the democratic process, and wishes to preserve and ensure peaceful elections to promote stability and peace. The most effective route to promote peace is to ensure open dialogues between all member states of the United Nations.

However, the violence in Burundi has been escalating, especially from the recent election. For there to be free and valid elections in Burundi, these instances of violence need to decrease. In the short term, peacekeepers could be deployed to limit homicides and other horrible crimes. The peacekeepers would temporarily be in action to stop violent situations started by citizens.However, the police force needs to be trained in a manner so they can properly deal with violent situations without killing or imprisoning innocent people. In the long term, the Burundian government needs to cooperate and discuss issues it faces with other countries, and criminal justice system needs to be improved. The government of Burundi has no right to jail citizens without a fair trial.

Again, it is restated that political dialogues with Burundi need to be kept open. Advisors could be sent to help Burundi through this terrible crisis. These advisors could possibly assist with the reformation of the justice system, and to improve the general quality of living in the country. They would be from a variety of different backgrounds, so different perspectives could be brought to light in order for the Burundian government to govern to ensure prosperity and proper representation for its citizens. Angola sincerely wishes that Burundi will be open for cooperation and change, so that the senseless killing and false imprisonment of human beings will stop.

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: China
Delegate Name: Olivia Venus
School: Kalamazoo Central High School

Ingrained in the Security Council’s potential involvement in Burundi should lie one question: how would our involvement blur the lines between the right to national sovereignty and autonomy that each state deserves and the supreme desires of the United Nations as a body? While it is necessary to take action in situations as delicate as this, we must hesitate before proposing a resolution which supports the interference of democratic states and the forcing of their beliefs and regime onto other states. On October 18th, 2016 President Pierre Nkurunziza proposed legislation to withdraw Burundi from the International Criminal Court as a means to defend his nation from the breach of national sovereignty and strong imperialist might it holds.

China stands by this decision, however much we may oppose the state’s actions against its peoples. It is clear that the ICC is biased and that western powers continually maintain a stronghold on its front, using it as a means to put “third world” nations in line. This is specifically clear when considering the statistical breakdown of ICC cases; the majority of nations under current investigation by the court are African, and none are located in Europe or North America. This is precisely why China did not sign on to the ICC in the first place. These supranational organizations are not only biased to the west in this way, but interfere with national sovereignty in a way that is largely unacceptable.

Considering this belief and the strong concern China maintains for the infringement of national sovereignty in any nation, we will not support any rhetoric charging President Pierre Nkurunziza of war crimes or forcibly tearing down any part of the established regime in Burundi. Likewise, China will not be pledging any military support for or against Burundi and we hope to focus on the situations for refugees, the state of infrastructure, and ways in which we can persuade the Burundi government to greater comply with United Nations wishes. Instead, we as a body should focus on ways in which we can negotiate peacefully with the government in Burundi and make compromises that create a greater sense of stability and greater opportunity for Burundi’s peoples. We should also focus on how we are going to handle yet another refugee crisis arising from this nation, working alongside surrounding African nations to establish refugee camps and create semi-permanent homes for displaced peoples throughout the continent. China works closely with African nations to rebuild infrastructure and provide technologies for their citizens, and hopes to further these efforts as a means to create change in a more non-political, meaningful way.

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: Egypt
Delegate Name: Olivia Decker
School: Royal Oak High School

The unfortunate situation of Burundi has caught the attention of Egypt as well as all the countries of the United Nations, and the problems surrounding it have become top priority to solve. Being that it is a country of Africa, Egypt has a special sympathy for the issues Burundi is currently facing. We are especially concerned about the refugees that are being forced to flee their homes and country at the hands of militant groups such as the National Liberation Front (FNL) and the Republican Forces of Burundi (FOREBU) as well as the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the president’s party, who has become a militia within the country, threatening to and actually killing those who did not support President Nkurunziza.

Our primary concern revolves around the refugees fleeing the country, where they will go, and how we can secure their safety. Currently, they are taking shelter in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, all surrounding counties of Burundi. Egypt believes we should take a similar response approach as done in the Burundi Regional Refugee Response Plan. Protection from militant groups, specifically the FNL, who has been recruiting from refugee camps, is a top priority, as well as promoting education among minors so to avoid future situation such as this one. To prevent strain on resources of the countries that are graciously accepting refugees, the Security Council must develop a resolution that addresses this issue thoroughly.

The second priority Egypt would like to address is promoting negotiation amongst the different political groups of Burundi, namely CNARED and CNDD-FDD. We cannot attempt to negotiate with the militant groups, only dissolve them through education of Burundi’s youth and protection of their people. Clearly these militant groups have become a serious problem, and, while it is not our place to physically intervene in Burundi, we must create a resolution that promotes further security in the region and protects their people as well as the justice of their political processes.

Because Burundi can unfortunately not join us in Security Council, Egypt is prepared to be a voice for their wishes in committee as a member of the African Union, along with the other African countries joining us. We have experience with internal problems, and, while we are developing, we can sympathize with Burundi’s current issues, and understand the best ways to solve these problems. Our relationship with Burundi is strong, we are currently sending them medical equipment to help their people.

The delegate of Egypt is prepared to be a member of the Security Council and solve this prominent issue. We are confident in the abilities of the council to develop a strong plan. I am sure we can restore the safety and security of Burundi and its government.

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: France
Delegate Name: Charlie Buckley
School: Williamston High School

The current situation in Burundi is deteriorating hour by hour, and death by death. Since 2010 Pierre Nkurunziza has slowly been moving toward a more centralized and arbitrarily strict rule. However, nothing quite compares to when in April 2015 he announced that he would be running for a third term, despite the clear constitutional barrier ahead of him. In order to legally be allowed to run again, the country's constitutional court had to rule on the matter, and the ruling was technically unanimously in favor of letting him run again. However, this is among reports of threats from the opposition, along with judges and their families reportedly being intimidated by high ranking government officials close to Pierre. Although they tried to hold out, Pierre's friends got the message across, and four of the seven original judges fled the country with the remaining three having no choice but to accept the president's “request” for a third term. Although the federal government denies the allegations, four judges are still in hiding. As a result of all of this, massive protests broke out in the Burundian capital of Bujumbura over the clear cut unconstitutionality of this entire matter. The people seem to have echoed a fear in the government as well, because soon there after the protests first started, a coup among high military and government officials broke out. Although it failed the situation in Burundi is still very fragile, and fighting continues with assassinations being rampant, and extrajudicial killings becoming more and more widespread. The conflict has already killed several thousands, and has displaced hundreds of thousands more, affecting the surrounds regions as well as Burundi itself.

Burundi, like many former colonies, has been unable to ward off instability and corruption among mounting pressures from the international, as well as domestic communities. France sees this issue among many of its former colonies, despite Burundi in particular being a former Belgian colony; the issues tend to be the same. The current “president”, despite his reasons, either selfish or selfless, is setting a dangerous precedent for all future presidents of the Republic of Burundi. France also sees this issue as one which will not only destabilize Burundi, but the surrounding regions as well. This will most likely come in the form of refugees, along with armed conflict which will seep over the border into neighboring countries. France would like to see Burundi prosper not only economically, but also politically as democratic elections are a work of beauty once done fairly and regularly. However, for them to be done fairly, rules must be followed, and he has broken a clear rule.

France sees a lot of potential solutions to this problem, however they all stem from the same idea, the international community has to help Burundi help itself in the most independent way possible while still actively pushing change. This is made difficult by the fact that the current “president” has made it very clear that he is not willing to cooperate with the international community in regards to helping stabilize the already rapidly deteriorating situation in the country. France strongly expects the support of other western nations.

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Peyton Klochack
School: Grand Blanc High School

The Burundi crisis began back in 2015, when President Pierre Nkurunziza went to run for a third term for Burundi’s presidency. However, he had already completed his 2 five year terms in office since 2005, when the new Burundi Constitution was written after decades of fighting and civil war. Since then Burundi’s current ruling party, the CNDD-FDD, has maintained total control of the government. This announcement sparked peaceful protests across the nation, until an incident in the capital of Burundi in May of 2015, when he announced. The protest was peaceful until police and protestors clashed in the streets of Bujumbura. Nkurunziza won that election and has continued to rule. After an attempted military coup in May of 2015, police and other security forces have cracked down on protests across the country, inciting opposition militias to take up arms and fight back, furthering the cycle of violence. Throughout all this happening over the course of a year, people in Burundi have been caught in the cross fire. According to a report done by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Burundian Human Rights League (ITEKA), multiple crimes of genocidal implications have been committed, primarily by government forces and a militia supported by Nkurunziza called the Imbonerakure. These crimes include murder, kidnapping, disappearances, torture, rape and mass detention. The potential genocide comes in because after the kidnapping, the CNDD-FDD began using hateful rhetoric of pro-Hutu ethnicity targeted against the Tutsi minority to justify the repression of the country. Since then, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and as recent as September 27th, 2016, over 1,000 dead, 8,000 people detained on political grounds, 300 to 800 people missing, hundreds of people tortured, hundreds of women victim of sexual violence, and thousands of arbitrary arrests. These abuses, committed mainly by Burundian security forces, have already forced more than 310,000 people to flee the country. This crisis needs to be solved now before it gets worse

Japan condemns the atrocities committed in Burundi according to this report. While we are not in the same region in which these actions are taking place, we will be taking action now before this crisis gets any worse. So far, over the course of this crisis, Japan has donated nearly $4 million U.S. dollars to the United Nations World Food Programme to help with the immediate food needs of 53,500 people affected by the crisis and to the United Nations Children’s Fund which will help nearly 10,000 minors affected by malnutrition in Burundi.

Japan believes in a multiple step approach to solving this crisis. One; the organization of a multi-national civilian defense protection force to Burundi with the sole purpose of defending the civilian population which has been the main casualty during this unrest, Two; create international sanctions against the perpetrators against human rights in Burundi, Three; Recommend the ICC begin building a case prosecution against the perpetrators of human rights in Burundi, Four; Begin further incriminating investigations into the crimes committed by the Burundi government over the course of this conflict, and Five; Bring the fighting the sides together to begin talks of peace. Japan doesn’t want to see more people die and this struggle to carry on. Japan refuses to see a genocide take place and will not allow this to happen.

Sources:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08/burundi-rejects-police-deployment-violence-160803165524258.html

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/burundi-risks-genocide-forgotten-conflict-161115142336120.html

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/burundi-moves-quit-international-criminal-court-161012132153065.html

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/09/probe-finds-gross-human-rights-abuses-burundi-160920193304827.html

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08/burundi-rejects-police-deployment-violence-160803165524258.html

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2016/04/burundi-year-turmoil-160424102559138.html

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/01/deploying-au-burundi-consent-unimaginable-160131084557603.html

https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/burundi_summary_report_english-2.pdf

https://www.fidh.org/en/region/Africa/burundi/repression-and-genocidal-dynamics-in-burundi

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/01/african-union-decides-peacekeepers-burundi-160131102052278.html

http://www.rw.emb-japan.go.jp/burundi/en/JointPressRelease-WFP20160330en.pdf

http://cajnewsafrica.com/2016/03/30/japan-donation-eases-plight-of-burundi-minors/

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: Malaysia
Delegate Name: Lukas Sznewajs
School: Roeper School

Malaysia strongly believes that the top priority of the United Nations should be the restoration of safety in Burundi. The humanitarian crises that face the people of the region have resulted not only in countless innocent lives lost within the nation of Burundi, but also a catastrophic refugee problem in the region, as more than 20% of Burundians (1.2 million people) have fled their homes over the past few years. Malaysia submitted a resolution to the Council in April of 2016 that emphasized the duty of the United Nations to minimize bloodshed; originally peacekeeping forces were called for in the resolution. However, as the conflict has escalated and foreign intervention has been denied by the government of Burundi, the alternatives that Malaysia supports are: UN-mandated Mediation between conflicting parties, international assistance (medical and other) to displaced or damaged communities, and the implementation of political and economic deterrents against the government of Burundi, in hopes that comprehensive reform will result. Malaysia recognizes the repeated refusals of the Burundian government for international intervention, particularly from non-African nations, but firmly believes that assistance from the international community is the only way to bring peace to the region, which has been prone to long, bloody disputes and political instability for well over half a century.

Malaysia strongly encourages the Council to assist in mediation (via the ICJ or another international organization, such as the AU) between fighting parties. Nonviolent resolution is the only method of ending violence in the region that has not been declined by the government of Burundi, and though the process can be long, painful, and often ineffective, Malaysia hopes that peace might be achieved in such a nonviolent manner. If mediation between the government or rebel groups is declined, then Malaysia recommends the use of peaceful military force in the surrounding nations to deter the spread of violence, in addition to requesting that international mediation (involving neighboring states) be implemented in the region.

Malaysia calls upon the members of the Council to support the African Union’s position on peaceful intervention; neighboring states such as the DR Congo and Tanzania have developed favorable diplomatic relations with the government of Burundi. Malaysia would like to encourage peaceful military intervention from these countries, perhaps including the patrolling of refugee camps or the presence of international military force in tense surrounding areas, in hopes that hostile groups and the humanitarian threats they present to the people in the region might be deterred or eliminated. Furthermore, Malaysia encourages the Council to aid refugees in neighboring countries and strongly believes that international assistance across the region is the best approach to peacefully end the conflicts.

Malaysia also calls upon the international community to implement economic sanctions upon the government of Burundi. This would have little to no effect upon the population of Burundi, which is already living in poverty; the vast majority of Burundians live without electricity, running water, communication or any other significant infrastructure, or economic support from the government. Sanctions would limit military spending, decrease the availability of military resources, and weaken the regime of the government; government corruption has been the primary driving factor of violence in the region and ignited the conflict at hand. By crippling the government, Malaysia hopes that violence will subside in the area, and hopes further international efforts could be made by the UN and AU, among others, once government control and violence have decreased in Burundi.

Malaysia calls upon media throughout the world to investigate and report on the conflict in Burundi, so that people worldwide can be informed and aware of the humanitarian crises in the nation. Additionally, Malaysia hopes that increased knowledge of the situation will allow the UN and other organizations to enjoy support for their peacekeeping efforts. Popular support for foreign aid or intervention can only come after people are aware of the conflicts.

Malaysia reminds the Council that action must be taken quickly to prevent a new round of genocide in the region (which has not yet recovered from the Rwandan crisis not many years ago). The recent killings of Catholic nuns by rebel groups are extremely concerning, and remind us all that without intervention, the conflict could very easily escalate into something much direr and gruesome than the already horrifying violence taking place in Burundi. These reports of beheaded elderly nuns, who were advocates for nonviolence in the region, invoke images of the genocides that have terrorized Burundi and its neighbors. The telltale signs of indiscriminate and ruthless bloodshed are present, and the Council must act responsibly to save the lives of countless civilians before it is too late. Malaysia strongly urges the international community to take action, whether economic, militaristic or otherwise, to resolve this war quickly and responsibly, lest more lives are lost to the complex and ruthless fighting in Burundi.

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: New Zealand
Delegate Name: Noah Alderton
School: Fishers High School

The nation of New Zealand has always been a strong believer in the self-determination of people. During the creation of the Charter of the United Nations, New Zealand championed the self-determination clauses, including Chapter 1, Article 1, Section 2, which reads:

“To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;”

However, in order to achieve the goal of self-determination in the Republic of Burundi, peace must first be achieved in the region. Burundi has historically had long periods of violence, with the Burundian Civil War being the most instance. The Burundian Civil War occurred between 1993-2005, and resulted in over 300,000 deaths. It is in the interest of New Zealand, the Burundian people, and the global community to ensure that another period of deadly conflict occurs in Burundi.

There are ultimately five aspects that immediately need to be addressed to descalate the situation in Burundi: killings, prisoners, refugees, media, and elections. The United Nations has reported that there have been over 500 people killed since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his intentions to run for a third term. Many of those killed were killed by the President’s security service and the Imbonerakure. In order to address this constitutional problem, it is first important stop these killings to prevent future escalation into civil war. Next, it is important to address the prisoners being arrested by the government. Since the beginning of this crisis, arbitrary mass arrests and disappearances have become common. Not only are people being unjustly arrested, but prisoners are treated poorly. The United Nations has reported that there have been at least 345 instances of torture and ill treatment of prisoners in Burundi since the beginning of 2016. These instances of torture need to be immediately addressed and prevented in accordance with Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Furthermore, the health and safety of the displaced refugees needs to be ensured. Nearly 300,000 Burundians have fled their homes to seek refuge in nations like Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition, groups like the Imbonerakure have infiltrated the refugee camps, and have intimidated the refugees and attempted to collapse the education system in these camps. The final two things needed to restore peace in Burundi are related: the restoration of the freedom of speech and the establishment of fair elections. The media has recently been greatly restricted throughout Burundi including the shutting down the privately owned Radio Publique Africaine and limiting access to social media networks that were used to organize protests. The open expression of various political opinions is critical to maintaining fair elections, another aspect absent in the current Burundi political environment. The United Nations declared that the 15 July 2015 election was neither free or credible due to violence and the oppression of opposition candidates. Free speech and fair elections are fundamental to a functional government, and need to be reestablished immediately.

The nation of New Zealand is a strong believer in nation’s right to be sovereign over their jurisdictional land, however there are certain instances where intervention is necessary to ensure the wellbeing on innocent civilians. The Burundian government has been strongly opposed to international involvement including rejecting 228 United Nations police officers and 5,000 African Union peacekeepers. At this point, it is in the opinion of New Zealand that any international military involvement will simply worsen the situation. However, international involvement is needed to de-escalate tensions in the region and to protect civilians. Economic sanctions should be implemented in an effort to limit access to armaments in the region. Furthermore, direct financial aid to the Burundian government should be limited to prevent the misallocation of funds for violent purposes. Humanitarian aid should be directed to the refugees camps that support those displaced by the turmoil. In order to maintain the safety of the refugees, United Nations peacekeeping forces should be mobilized to these refugee camps in order to ensure the safety of the refugees. Any permanent resolution to the situation in Burundi will ultimately need to be conceived by the people of Burundi. In an effort to expedite an effective solution, the United Nations should organize peace talks between the Burundian government and opposition forces. Ultimately, new fair elections should be held in order to reflect the wills of the Burundian people. In an effort to ensure the fairness of these elections, United Nations election observers should be utilized. The unrest in Burundi has negatively impacted thousands of Burundians, and New Zealand would like to find an effective solution to the situation.

Works Cited

“Adopting Resolution 2303 (2016), Security Council Requests Secretary-General Establish Police Component in Burundi to Monitor Security Situation.” UN News Center, United Nations, 29 July 2016, www.un.org/press/en/2016/sc12469.doc.htm.

Agence France-Presse. “UN Declares Burundi Elections Not Free or Credible after Clashes.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 3 July 2015, www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/03/un-declares-burundi-elections-not-free-or-credible-amid-tense-standoff.

“Burundi Rejects UN Police Deployment amid Violence.” Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera Media Network, 3 Aug. 2016, www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08/burundi-rejects-police-deployment-violence-160803165524258.html.

“Burundi Rejects UN Report on Country's Human Rights Situation as 'Purposefully and Politically Exaggerated'.” UN News Center, United Nations, 24 Sept. 2016, www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?newsid=55111.

Cumming-Bruce, Nick. “Burundi Is Torturing Prisoners in Crackdown on Dissent, United Nations Says.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 18 Apr. 2016, www.nytimes.com/2016/04/19/world/africa/burundi-is-torturing-prisoners-in-crackdown-on-dissent-united-nations-says.html.

“EU Suspends Aid to Burundi's Government.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 15 Mar. 2016, www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/mar/15/eu-suspends-aid-to-burundi-government.

Gettleman, Jeffrey. “Raising Fears of a Flight from International Criminal Court, Burundi Heads for Exit.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Oct. 2016, www.nytimes.com/2016/10/13/world/africa/burundi-moves-to-quit-international-criminal-court-raising-fears-of-an-exodus.html.

Jones, Sam. “Burundi Close to 'Major Crisis' as Hunger and Disease Take Hold, Warns Unicef.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 18 Feb. 2016, www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/feb/18/burundi-major-crisis-unicef-violence-malnutrition-malaria-cholera.

Kushkush, Isma'il. “Political Unrest Pushes Burundi Closer to Economic Collapse.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 22 May 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/05/23/world/africa/political-unrest-pushes-burundi-closer-to-economic-collapse.html.

“New Zealand and the UN Security Council 2015-16.” New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Government of New Zealand, www.mfat.govt.nz/en/peace-rights-and-security/work-with-the-un-and-other-partners/new-zealand-and-the-un-security-council-2015-16/.

“Number Fleeing Burundi to Neighbouring Countries Tops 300,000.” UNHCR News, UNHCR, 23 Sept. 2016, www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2016/9/57e535d26/number-fleeing-burundi-neighbouring-countries-tops-300000.html.

Schlein, Lisa. “UN Warns Burundi Could Descend Into Chaos.” VOA, Voice of America, 1 May 2015, www.voanews.com/a/growing-fear-burundi-could-descend-into-chaos/2744645.html.

Sperber, Amanda. “Fleeing Burundi Won’t Protect You From Its Government.” Foreign Policy, The FP Group, 4 Nov. 2016, foreignpolicy.com/2016/11/04/fleeing-burundi-wont-protect-you-from-its-government-imbonerakure-tanzania-refugees/.

Verini, James. “On the Run in Burundi.” The New Yorker, Condé Nast, 27 Apr. 2016, www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/on-the-run-in-burundi.

Yusuf, Mohammed. “Burundi Journalists Protest Closing of Radio Station.” VOA, Voice of America, 3 May 2015, www.voanews.com/a/burundi-journalists-protest-closing-of-radio-station/2746796.html.

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: Russia
Delegate Name: Noah Weller
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

President Pierre Nkurunziza’s third presidential bid and subsequent election are, according to some countries, including the United States, completely in violation of the Burundian constitution. True or not this may be, it is not the duty or within the power of the Security Council to make a judgement or take action on the matter. The United Nations Security Council wields immense power, but Chapter 1, Article II, Section 7 of the United Nations Charter dictates that this authority is to be used only to settle disagreements between states and to maintain peace amongst them, not within. Therefore, it is not the Security Council’s duty to determine the constitutionality of another country’s political actions.

So long as no international mandates (such as those regarding human rights or chemical weapons) are flagrantly being voided, and so long as the parties to the conflict are solely domestic, the Russian Federation believes that foreign military intervention in the affairs of another nation should only be performed at the explicit request of the government of the nation in question. As of right now, the sole indication of any extranational involvement in the Burundian conflict is a dubious suspicion that a contingent of Burundian rebels entered the country from across the Rwandan border, a claim that the Rwandan government vehemently denied, and a development that Russia does not believe warrants a unilateral military response by the Security Council. The Nkurunziza administration has made it abundantly clear that they do not need and do not wish for any foreign assistance in the resolution of the conflict brought about by the constitutional debate, and any violation of this directive is counterintuitive to one of the founding principles of the United Nations — that all nations have equal sovereignty. The United Nations is an organization dedicated to keeping the peace between countries, not implementing a single global policy by means of invasion and intervention.

Russia also believes, such as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suspected to be the case in the Second Ivorian Civil War, that intervening in a civil conflict, that introducing additional international military players, is a disastrous strategy that leads not to the hastened ending of a conflict. Rather, it leads to the introduction of additional military players in the form of United Nations Peacekeepers, which in turn causes a greater death toll and increased instability in the areas affected. The situation in Burundi draws a number of parallels to the previous situation in Côte D'Ivoire, and Russia fears and discourages any further militaristic parallels that the United Nations would wish to initiate in the Burundian conflict.

It is a wise move, however, to authorize a contingent of non-military international police forces to monitor the human rights situation in Burundi, such as was performed by resolution S/RES/2303 (2016). This protects the people against any possible circumscription of civil liberties during the duration of the conflict while protecting the government from additional military elements, and is the best solution to expedite the end of the conflict without causing any undue deaths or introducing any unnecessary parties to the conflict.

The Russian Federation deeply hopes that an end shall soon come to the unrest within Burundi, that the government shall respect the human rights of its citizens throughout the duration of the conflict, and that a peaceful agreement can be reached between the government and the people of Burundi. The Russian Federation believes, however, that forcing a solution upon Burundi by means of a Security Council resolution is brash, irresponsible, and deeply disrespectful of the sovereignty of the Burundian government and its people.

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: Senegal
Delegate Name: William Kelly
School: Grand Rapids City High School

The delegation from The Republic of Senegal is deeply alarmed by the situation in Burundi. In all facets of the situation, be it the unconstitutional actions of the government or the blatant human rights abuses against its people. While Senegal has issued its support in the past for a multilateral peacekeeping force, the African Union has officially decided against any such action and thus Senegal, in itself, must honor this. Burundi has suffered a bloody history while the African Union has observed full national sovereignty to this point–– we can not risk any more bloodshed in Burundi nor can we risk blood on the hands of a traditionally peaceful organization. With this, barring a non-African peacekeeping force, the only solution in sight to this tragic crisis is the continued use of economic and political incentives. This year, the European Union enforced sanctions upon Burundi and officials close to the incumbent president, and Senegal is in full support of such actions. The delegation to the UN Security Council hopes to strengthen such sanctions and perhaps strengthen them in cases where analysis shows it would be most beneficial. As well as this, Senegal would like to strongly advocate for diplomatic sanctions, such as removal of voting privileges in the African Union and perhaps threaten complete removal from the African Union should the current government not resolve the conflicts as soon as possible. This being said, the delegation from Senegal is optimistic going into this conference and is willing and able to compromise to reach a solution that benefits the people of Burundi as much as possible. It hopes that all nations involved will be able to set national politics aside in order to work to improve the real human lives being hurt today.

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: Spain
Delegate Name: Julien Levesque
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

Conflict in Burundi has proven a formidable recurrence for the emerging nation: where one party may foresee peace, the other–indubitably–has not. As it may stand independent as a country, Burundi has been heavily reliant on foreign powers and rebel tactics to rid itself of persistent and seemingly unending violence. Political impasse has gridlocked internal relations.

It is the position of Spain that all peaceable powers (those who wish for a more settled, less divided, and independent Burundi) aim for a resolution that mirrors or improves the set standard of past United Nations consensus. Resolution 2276 (2016) has set the framework for a most agreeable future for Burundi, one where the acting government is encouraged to deny, condemn, and disagree with all speech, action, or urgence of inciting violence. These actions will allow the central government to instate itself as the primary national power, of whose responsibility is to protect and guarantee the fundamental personal freedoms of all Burundians. Peace being the primary goal, Spain wishes that a reinforcement of Resolution 2276–encouraging the aid of local and surrounding governments to openly condemn politically charged violence as well–could greatly improve the situation and conflict in Burundi.

Increasing its radius of support, Burundi would undeniably benefit. It holds great promise in its people and its resources; but, within greater context, Burundi is still a developing nation. It requires the support of its local governmental partners in order to draw upon its potential. It has the capacity to become a successful centralized independent country, its constituency being peaceably represented and catered to as equally peaceable citizens. But in order for that to be achieved in the most expedient and effective manner, the Burundi government must be supported by the entire global community; and it is of Spain’s most emphasized opinion that a *unanimous* goal must be had within the UN to see success in the region–and no less.

Peace will be the foundation of growth for Burundi, and Spain believes it is the UN’s duty to encourage the support of local nations in the region. Without it, Burundi will be unable to achieve democratic peace, and that, truly, is a greater detriment to its people than violence could ever be.

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: Ukraine
Delegate Name: Clayton deJong
School: East Grand Rapids High School

The Ukraine is no stranger to political instability and it is important to ensure that human rights and peace within the country be upheld. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms this truth when it states, “All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms. The United Nations is committed to upholding, promoting and protecting the human rights of every individual.” Ukraine, as a member of the UN is committed to preserving this goal, and it is imperative that we address the turmoil being experienced by the people of Burundi. President Poroshenko affirms, “We hope that the reaction of the world community to the brutal violation of human rights .. will be demonstrated.” Ukraine stands with its allies in the EU and NATO when it comes to preserving these rights and the central problem of the crisis in Burundi is protecting global citizens.

An important part of preserving human rights in Burundi is fulfilling the five main objectives of Ukraine and its allies, including France, who articulated these goals when making remarks about Security Council Resolution 2279. The first is to support African efforts to emerge from the crisis by promoting an open discussion and dialogue that would lead to solutions. The second through fourth objectives involve bolstering a United Nations presence in the area, enabling further supervision of the deteriorating situation. The fifth objective is to uphold the gains made in the Arusha Agreement that ended the long Burundian Civil War and provide victimized Burundians the path to peace that they deserve.

Another important resolution that has been passed by the Security Council on Burundi is Security Council Resolution 2303, which requested that the Secretary-General establish a United Nations “police officers’ component” in the country for one year to monitor the security situation and to support Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Ukraine fully supports this measure and is confident that the UN will be able to open communications within the region using a supervisory capacity to ensure the welfare of the civilians.

Moreover, if under the surveillance set by resolutions 2279 and 2303 there are further human rights violations which could be considered “crimes against humanity” that are either condoned or sponsored by the Burundian Government it is our duty as the Security Council to invoke the Responsibility to Protect Doctrine (R2P). This means that regardless of President Pierre Nkurunziza’s opinion, we must save the lives of these global citizens.

Thus, because of the current issues within Ukraine’s own borders, particularly the unrest in the Eastern region of Ukraine, it is not realistic for Ukraine to contribute significant military or financial aid. However, it is certain that our wealthy allies would be open to these options in order to achieve UN objectives and save lives by solving the current crisis. The Ukraine pledges its full voting supports in order to realize these goals.

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: United Kingdom
Delegate Name: Oscar Luna
School: Instituto Educativo Olinca

The president of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza announced his intensions of seeking reelection in April of 2015. Since then Burundi has lived a political instability. The opposition claimed that the reelection of Nkurunziza was illegal, due to the fact that the constitution of Burundi only allows two terms. Despite the accusations of the opposition Pierre Nkurunziza presented his candidacy arguing that in his first term he was elected by the parliament and not by popular vote, arguments that were accepted by the Supreme Court of Burundi. In spite of the decision of the Court many demonstrations of the people and the opposition were made against Nkurunziza´s candidacy. Many of this demonstration were repressed by the police.

On may 13 2015 a coup against the president Nkurunziza was orchestrated by a general of the Burundi's army, but after a day, the coup failed.

At the elections Nkurunziza won the reelection by a large margin, but the violence towards the opposition not only continue but (according to the International Federation of Human Rights,) increased so much that there is a risk of genocide.

Recently many armed groups had emerged throughout the country, for example FOREBU, a group of soldiers that participate in the Coup against the president or The National Liberation Front. This has caused that almost 400,000 refugees had fled the country causing instability in the region.

(POSITION)

The United Kindom as a democratic nation believes that every single country has the right to chose its own government, thus the United Kingdom recognizes the president Pierre Nkurunziza. However, the United Kingdom does not approve actions made by any country that violates the human rights of their people.

(PROPOSITIONS)

United Kingdom with the purpose of ending the problems in Burundi and to bring stability and peace to the region proposes:

•To give an ultimatum to the government of Burundi asking them to stop the persecution of political dissidents or they will face economical sanctions.

• To make a recommendation to the government to accept the military help of The African Union.

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: United States
Delegate Name: Daniel Slaw
School: Forest Hills Central High School

The decision of President Pierre Nkurunziza to run for a third presidential term was an unconstitutional act according to the Burundian constitution. While it is true that Chapter 1, Article II, Section 7 of the United Nations Charter states that the Security Council may only use its power to settle conflicts between states, Chapter VI, Article 34 of the United Nations Charter authorizes the Security Council to “investigate any dispute, or any situation which might lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute, in order to determine whether the continuance of the dispute or situation is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security.” Further, Chapter VI, Article 36 allows the Security Council to recommend appropriate procedures or methods of adjustment. Even further, Article 37 authorizes the Security Council to take action. The situation in Burundi threatens international peace. The Rwandan government is arming and training refugees on behalf of the Burundian opposition including (successful) attempts to recruit children to participate in armed attacks. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been moving into Burundi and recruiting fighters from surrounding nations. The humanitarian situation in Burundi is alarming as well, seeing that the Special Session Amnesty International found extrajudicial executions, the use of torture and other ill treatment in detention, and efforts to erase the human rights community. The United Nations spokesman Farhan Haq has even already said that a United Nations mission in Burundi “observed media freedom restrictions, violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.” Thus, this situation is clearly international, urgent to be solved, and must be dealt with. It is naive and ignorant to think that is it sufficient to not take action.

With that being said, the United States believes that it is within the power of the United Nations Security Council to take action. The United States believes that implementing economic sanctions would be powerful. These sanctions would dramatically affect the ability of Nkurunziza to have economic welfare and would force him to come to terms with the situation and find a diplomatic, peaceful situation. The United States also believes — like New Zealand — that direct financial aid to the Burundian government would be a grave mistake and only promote more violence in the region. Camps must be created in the neighboring countries of Tanzania and Rwanda with UN peacekeeping troops to ensure their safety and welfare. The United States believes that this statement can be agreed upon by all nations in the current Security Council. The United States thinks that removing Burundi from the African Union is a smart and diplomatic solution.

In a broad sense, the Burundian government must be reformed in order to establish efficient, fair, and effective democracy. All of the groups fighting in this situation must come together — with the United Nations acting as a mediator — to stop all violence and create peaceful dialogue. The United States seeks to ensure that new and fair elections will be run in Burundi to support and find a leader that backs the will of the people. Only this will establish effective democracy and will set Burundi on the track for long-term development. The United States is more than willing to work with all nations in the Security Council and wishes for us to find a practical solution to engender order and stability in Burundi.

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: Uruguay
Delegate Name: Nikolas Zazula
School: Vicksburg High School

The delegation of Uruguay believes that the current situation in Burundi is one of drastic importance, and one that desperately needs to be taken into consideration by the Security Council. The political instability in the government affects both those in and around the nation. Uruguay disapproves of the unlawful behavior of Burundi’s government officials, and the continuous violence perpetuated by the oppression of its citizens. The clash between military forces and protesters in the region has encouraged the formation of armed militias, and incited chaos and crime throughout the country.

In order to provide an effective form of action in the region, the United Nations must invest in NGOs and economic incentives to help deescalate these acts of violence, and provide aid to those who are affected by the conflicts. By utilizing the United Nations World Food Programme and similar NGOs in the region, the UN can implement economic sanctions on the nation without drastically harming its citizens. Our goal in Burundi should be to encourage the reformation of a peaceful, democratic government that acts in the best interest of its citizens without creating further violence. With respect to Burundi’s national sovereignty, there are a multitude of actions that the UN can take without using armed forces.

Being able to address the situation in Burundi in a largely peaceful manner is our priority as the United Nations. Without inciting further violence in the region, we must take steps to prioritize the safety of Burundi’s citizens while also discouraging the violent actions committed by the government. The delegation of Uruguay believes that the most reliable course of action is to put our focus into the de-escalation of conflict and the providing of aid to those in need. Uruguay looks forward to working with the Security Council to take action into peacefully addressing this situation.

Topic: Situation in Burundi
Country: Venezuela
Delegate Name: Eric Payerle
School: Mattawan High School

The situation in Burundi is growing more chaotic as fighting between various factions is creating increasing amounts of displaced persons. These people often flee from Burundi and place strain on the surrounding nation's. This is contributing to growing instability in the region. All of this stems from the factions fighting for control of Burundi’s government after President Pierre Nkurunziza’s reelection. Last December, the African Union Peace and Security council suggested sending in a force of 5,000 peacekeepers to help control the situation. The Burundian parliament rejected the force saying it would be seen as a foreign invasion and AU held back the troops not wanting to set a precedent of international intervention. We are now left with an increasingly chaotic and unstable situation.

The most important concern is the stability of the region. With the region stabilized local governments will be able to begin helping displaced persons. Stability will allow for growth and development of infrastructure. As we become a more connected society the smallest events can create ripples around the world. The instability that is developing in Burundi and the surrounding region will have negative a negative impact on the global community if it continues to worsen. Who knows how it will impact the markets or how the refugees fleeing violence will affect the economies and infrastructure of the nations they flee to. This is why Venezuela believes this issue is important. We must act now to help prevent the spread of instability throughout the international community.

It is important to Venezuela that this issue be resolved with utmost respect for national sovereignty and without setting precedents for excessive foreign intervention. In this spirit we support the sentiments of the African Union and Burundian parliament. Venezuela chose to abstain on a previous vote about sending a police force to monitor Burundi elections in 2015 because of the Burundian government’s opposition to said police force. We must respect the sovereignty of Burundi and not take any action that would serve to impede dialogue between the coalitions within parliament. Venezuela is not opposed to providing aid to displaced persons in the region or helping promote dialogue between the factions in the area, but any action taken by the international community must be done in accordance with the wishes of all nations involved. We must allow these nations to work towards true stability by developing their own regional dynamics and partnerships instead of relationships that are fabricated by the international community. It is only with the utmost respect of the national sovereignty of all the nations involved, specifically Burundi, that any action taken can truly solve this issue.