United Nations Security Council Resolution 1286 – Burundi

Resolution 1286 (2000)

The Security Council,

Reaffirming its previous resolutions and statements by its President on thesituation in Burundi,

Expressing concern at the dire economic, humanitarian and social conditionsin Burundi,

Expressing deep concern at the ongoing violence and insecurity in Burundimarked by increased attacks by armed groups on the civilian population in andaround the capital,

Noting with concern the implications of the situation in Burundi for theregion as well as the consequences for Burundi of continued regionalinstability,

Recognizing the important role of the States of the region, in particularTanzania, which is host to hundreds of thousands of Burundian refugees and hometo the Julius Nyerere Foundation, which has provided outstanding support to thetalks,

Noting that the United Nations agencies, regional and non-governmentalorganizations, in cooperation with host Governments, are making use of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (E/bkcCN.4/1998/53 and Add.1-2), inter alia, in Africa,

Welcoming the human rights programme undertaken by the United Nations andthe cooperation afforded to it by the Government of Burundi and politicalparties in Burundi,

Reaffirming that the renewed Arusha peace process represents the mostviable basis for a resolution of the conflict together with the continuedefforts to build an internal political partnership in Burundi,

1. Warmly endorses and strongly supports the designation by the EighthArusha Regional Summit on 1 December 1999 of Nelson Mandela, former President ofthe Republic of South Africa, as the new Facilitator of the Arusha peaceprocess, successor to the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, expresses its strongestsupport for his efforts to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict inBurundi, and welcomes the successful meeting in Arusha on 16 January 2000launching his initiative;

2. Reiterates its strong support for the renewed Arusha peace process,endorses the call at the Eighth Arusha Regional Summit for all parties to theconflict in Burundi to extend maximum cooperation to the new peace processFacilitator, and calls for increased efforts to build an internal politicalpartnership in Burundi;

3. Endorses efforts by the Secretary-General to enhance the role of theUnited Nations in Burundi, and in particular the continued work of his SpecialRepresentative for the Great Lakes region;

4. Commends those Burundian parties, including the Government, that havedemonstrated their commitment to continue negotiations, and calls on all partiesthat remain outside the Arusha peace process to cease hostilities and toparticipate fully in that process;

5. Expresses appreciation for international donor support, and appealsfor increased assistance for the Arusha peace process;

6. Condemns continuing violence perpetrated by all parties, and inparticular by those non-State actors who refuse to participate in the Arushapeace process, and strongly urges all parties to end the ongoing armed conflictand to resolve their differences peacefully;

7. Condemns attacks against civilians in Burundi, and calls for animmediate end to these criminal acts;

8. Strongly condemns the murder of United Nations Children’s Fund andWorld Food Programme personnel and Burundian civilians in Rutana province inOctober 1999, and urges that the perpetrators be effectively brought to justice;

9. Calls for all parties to ensure the safe and unhindered access ofhumanitarian assistance to those in need in Burundi, and to guarantee fully thesafety, security and freedom of movement of United Nations and associatedpersonnel;

10. Calls for the immediate, full, safe and unhindered access ofhumanitarian workers and human rights observers to all regroupment camps, and calls for internees to have access to their livelihoods outside these camps;

11. Encourages further progress between the United Nations and theGovernment of Burundi and political parties in Burundi in establishingappropriate security guarantees for United Nations humanitarian agencies toresume field operations;

12. Calls upon neighbouring States, where appropriate, to take measures tohalt cross-border insurgent activity, and the illicit flow of arms andammunition, and to ensure the neutrality, security, and civilian character ofrefugee camps;

13. Calls for donors to provide humanitarian and human rights assistanceto Burundi and to resume substantial economic and development assistance withdue regard to security conditions;

14. Urges the international community to examine the economic development needs of Burundi with a view to establishing stable long-term conditions for the well-being of the Burundian people and for the return of refugees;

15. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Adopted by the Security Council at its 4091st meeting,on 19 January 2000.