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BURUNDI
U.S. opposition to a draft UN Security
Council resolution calling for a multidimensional peacekeeping operation for
Burundi, threatens a fragile peace in the country. Instead the Bush
administration is insisting on a mission with a strictly military mandate.
Fourteen members of the UN Security Council
support the draft resolution, but the U.S. is opposing it due to Congressional
fears of rapidly rising costs for international peacekeeping. These concerns
could have a detrimental affect on the success of the Burundi mission and the
Great Lakes region as a whole.
According to
Refugees International, the Burundi peace operation must have a
Chapter VII mandate and deploy under robust rules of engagement that can ensure
full protection of the civilian population in Burundi, especially where
intermittent fighting continues. Just as importantly, the nearly 6,000-troop
strong UN Operation in Burundi (UNOB) should also engage in the following
multidimensional activities:
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Take over and reinforce the role performed
by the African Union peacekeeping in Burundi (AMIB) in providing security for
the cantonment of combatants and to supervise the demobilization, disarmament
and reintegration of the armed groups and confinement to barracks of FAB (Forces
Armées Burundaises). Deployment should take place as soon as possible in order
to oversee the preparation of the elections that are planned to take place
before the end of October 2004.
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Support security sector reform, including
police training, rule of law and civil affairs with special attention to the
monitoring of the implementation of institutional reform at central and local
levels and assisting the electoral process.
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Be authorized to protect not only UN
personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, and to ensure the security
and freedom of movements of its personnel, but also to specifically include
protection of civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.
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Be authorized to facilitate the voluntary
return and reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons, including
the monitoring of border security and protecting the human rights of the
returning population in the areas of final destination.
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Include personnel at the senior management
level with special expertise in sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) and
child protection.
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Provide expertise and supervision in
implementing landmine action activities in affected provinces and assess the
impact of small arms and light weapons on civilians.
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Conduct its activities in close
coordination with humanitarian and developmental UN agencies, non-governmental
organizations and other partners involved in the transition process in Burundi.
The proposed UN resolution also follows guidelines and
suggestions put in place following the release of the Brahimi Report (see
below), which listed UN peacekeeping failures and provided concrete and sensible
recommendations to avoid those failures in the future.
Proposed Reforms to the Current UN Peace Operations System:
About
the Brahimi Report
Summary of the Report's Recommendations
An Analysis of the Secretary-General's Follow-up Report on the Brahimi
Report, released June 2001
Report of
the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations (Brahimi Report)
Last Update April, 28 2004
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