Abstract
S/RES/1902 (2009)
Security Council Distr.: General
17 December 2009
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Resolution 1902 (2009)
Adopted by the Security Council at its 6245th meeting, on
17 December 2009
The Security Council,
Recalling its resolutions and the statements of its President on Burundi, in
particular resolutions 1719 (2006), 1791 (2007) and 1858 (2008),
Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
integrity and unity of Burundi,
Reaffirming the importance of… [read more] the Declaration of the Summit of the Heads of
State and Government of the Great Lakes Region on the Burundi Peace Process,
which took place in Bujumbura on 4 December 2008 and the agreements reached
between the Government of Burundi and the Forces Nationales de Libération
(Palipehutu-FNL),
Paying tribute to the Regional Peace Initiative, the South African Facilitation,
the Partnership for Peace in Burundi, the African Union and the Political Directorate
for their sustained engagement in support of Burundi’s peace consolidation efforts,
Welcoming the progress achieved by Burundi in key peace consolidation areas,
as well as the remaining challenges, in particular the transformation of the
Palipehutu-FNL into a political party (FNL), nominating FNL leaders to civil
service positions, strengthening good governance, ensuring the sustainability of the
disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process, and taking forward the
reform of the security sector,
Commending the Government of Burundi and the political parties for the
consensus achieved in nominating the members of the Independent National
Electoral Commission and the consensual adoption of the revised electoral code,
welcoming the decision of the Government to provide a legal framework for the
Permanent Forum for Dialogue among parties and recalling the importance that the
elections scheduled for 2010 are prepared and conducted in a free, fair and peaceful
environment,
Emphasizing the need for the United Nations system and the international
community to maintain their support for peace consolidation and long-term
development in Burundi welcoming in this regard the holding of the Consultative
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Group meeting of donors in Paris in October 2009, and the twin mechanism put in
place to coordinate international assistance for the elections,
Welcoming the continued engagement of the Peacebuilding Commission in
Burundi and the recent visit of the Chairman of the Commission’s Burundi
configuration and taking note of the July 2009 biannual review of progress in the
implementation of the Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding in Burundi and of the
briefing of the Chairman of the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding
Commission on 10 December 2009,
Recognizing the importance of transitional justice in promoting lasting
reconciliation among all the people of Burundi and welcoming the process of
national consultations on the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms, in
accordance with the Arusha Agreements of 2000 and its resolution 1606 (2005),
Noting with concern the continuing human rights violations and restrictions on
civil liberties, including restrictions on the freedom of assembly and expression of
the political opposition and representatives of civil society and expressing equal
concern for the reports of violence perpetuated by youth groups associated with
some political parties,
Encouraging the Government of Burundi to continue its efforts to fight
impunity, and to bring to expeditious conclusion cases of human rights violations,
including killings,
Recalling its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009) and
1889 (2009) on women and peace and security, its resolutions 1674 (2006) and
1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts and its resolutions
1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009) on children and armed conflict,
Having considered the sixth report (S/2009/611) of the Secretary-General on
the United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB),
1. Decides to extend until 31 December 2010 the mandate of BINUB, as set
out in resolutions 1719 (2006), and renewed in its resolution 1791 (2007) and
1858 (2008);
2. Encourages the Government of Burundi and the FNL to make every
effort to achieve the implementation of the 4 December 2008 Agreements, calls on
all parties to desist from any action that may foster the resumption of tensions and
encourages them to resolve outstanding issues in the spirit of reconciliation and
dialogue enshrined in the Burundian Constitution;
3. Acknowledges the contribution brought to peace-building in Burundi by
the Regional Initiative, the South African facilitation, the Political Directorate and
the Partnership for Peace in Burundi until 2009 and encourages the Regional
Initiative leaders, the African Union, and other international partners to remain
actively engaged on the ground to ensure that the implementation of the 4 December
2008 Declaration is irreversible and to consolidate the peace process;
4. Reiterates its request for the Secretary-General, in particular through
BINUB, to play a robust political role in support of all facets of the peace process,
in full coordination with subregional, regional and international partners;
5. Decides that BINUB, working in close cooperation with the Government
of Burundi, shall pay particular attention to supporting the electoral process,
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democratic governance, the consolidation of peace, sustainable reintegration and
gender issues;
6. Recognizes the primary responsibility of the Government of Burundi and
its national partners to create the propitious conditions for the elections in 2010,
urges the Government of Burundi to take the necessary measures to create an
environment conducive to the holding of free, fair and peaceful elections in
2010 and encourages the Government of Burundi and the political parties to remain
engaged in dialogue, in particular through the Permanent Forum for Dialogue;
7. Urges the Government of Burundi and the political parties to continue
their efforts to preserve the independence and credibility of the Independent
National Electoral Commission;
8. Supports the launch in September 2009 by President Nkurunziza of a
nationwide civic education campaign for the elections and encourages the pursuit of
civic education activities throughout the electoral process;
9. Welcomes the United Nations readiness to assist in the electoral process
and requests BINUB to be prepared to provide, within its existing resources and if
required, logistical support to the Independent National Electoral Commission at
crucial phases of the electoral process;
10. Reiterates its request to the Executive Representative of the Secretary-
General to facilitate and promote dialogue among national and international
stakeholders, in particular in the context of the upcoming elections, while
continuing to support their efforts to sustain peace and stability;
11. Encourages the Government of Burundi, the Peacebuilding Commission,
and its national and international partners to honour the commitments they have
made under the Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding and requests the
Peacebuilding Commission, with support from BINUB, to continue to assist the
Government of Burundi in laying the foundations for sustainable peace and security,
reintegration and long-term development in Burundi and in mobilizing the resources
needed to achieve these aims, including for the coming elections;
12. Encourages the Government of Burundi to pursue its efforts regarding
peace consolidation challenges, in particular democratic governance, security
reforms, land tenure, justice and the protection of human rights, with a special focus
on women’s and children’s rights;
13. Encourages the Government of Burundi with the support of BINUB and
other international partners to step up its efforts to pursue the structural reforms
aimed at improving political, economic and administrative governance, with
continued focus on the fight against corruption, and encourages in particular the
implementation of the comprehensive Public Administration Reform Programme
(PARP);
14. Underscores the importance of security sector reform and urges all
international partners, together with BINUB, to support the Government of
Burundi’s efforts to professionalize and enhance the capacity of the national security
services and the police, in particular in the fields of training on human rights and
sexual and gender-based violence;
15. Encourages the Government of Burundi, in collaboration with all
international partners, including BINUB, UNDP and the World Bank, to complete
the disarmament and demobilization process and the strategy for the sustainable
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socio-economic reintegration of demobilized soldiers, former combatants, returning
refugees, the displaced and other vulnerable groups affected by the conflict,
particularly women and children, and urges international partners, particularly the
Peacebuilding Commission, to stand ready to support this;
16. Welcomes the progress by the Tripartite Commission comprising
Burundi, UNHCR and Tanzania towards achieving dignified durable solutions for
refugees living in Tanzania and encourages a sustained effort with regards to the
residual Burundi refugee caseload;
17. Encourages the Government of Burundi, with the support of BINUB and
other partners, to continue the national consultations on transitional justice with a
view to their timely completion and the publication of the final report, and to ensure
that the results of these consultations form the basis for the establishment of
transitional justice mechanisms;
18. Calls upon the Government of Burundi to pursue its efforts to broaden
the respect and protection of human rights, including through the establishment of a
credible National Independent Human Rights Commission, in conformity with the
Paris Principles outlined in General Assembly resolution 48/134 and further
encourages it to end impunity and to take the necessary measures to ensure its
citizens fully enjoy their civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights without
fear or intimidation, as enshrined in the Constitution of Burundi and provided for by
international human rights instruments, including those ratified by Burundi;
19. Expresses in particular its concern at the continuing sexual and genderbased
violence, and urges the Government to continue to take the necessary steps to
prevent further violations and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice;
20. Welcomes the release of all children by armed groups, emphasizes the
need for their sustainable reintegration and reinsertion, welcomes in this regard the
program launched by the World Bank in this field and urges the Government, with
the support of BINUB, UNICEF and other members of the Country Task Force on
the Monitoring and Reporting of Grave Child Rights Violations, to fight impunity
for violators of children’s rights;
21. Urges BINUB to strengthen current provisions for cooperation with the
United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(MONUC), within the limits of their respective capacities and current mandate, in
cooperation with the Governments of the Burundi and the Democratic Republic of
the Congo as appropriate;
22. Requests the Secretary-General to provide to the Council a briefing on
the electoral process in May 2010 and a full report on the implementation of the
mandate of BINUB in November 2010 and requests the Secretary-General to
incorporate in this report a detailed review of the extent to which the benchmarks
set in the 14 August 2006 Addendum (S/2006/429/Add.1) to his report of 21 June
2006 (S/2006/429) have been met, and, following consultations with the
Government of the Burundi, to provide recommendations on what changes need to
be made to the direction and composition of the UN presence in Burundi, including
recommendations on a revised time frame for the transition to a more developmentfocused
presence;
23. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. [^]