UNITED NATIONS. – The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to require UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to hold talks with the Burundian government and the African Union on the proposed international presence and present options to the Security Council within 15 days.
The new resolution unanimously adopted by the 15-nation UN council paves the way for an enhanced UN police presence in Burundi, where a crisis broke out in April 2015 after protests against the third term bid of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza. The resolution called on countries in the region “to contribute to a solution to the crisis in Burundi, and to refrain from supporting the activities of armed movements in any way.”
The Security Council expressed its “intention to consider measures against all actors, inside and outside Burundi, whose actions and statements contribute to the perpetuation of violence and impede the search for a peaceful solution,” the resolution said.
The Security Council urged “the government of Burundi and all parties to reject any kind of violence and condemn any public statement inciting violence or hatred,” the resolution said.
The council also demanded that “all sides in Burundi refrain from any action that would threaten peace and stability in the country,” said the resolution.
The protests and the post-election violence reportedly left more than 400 people killed and drove more than 240 000 people fled into neighbouring countries. – Xinhua



