A United Nations independent probe revealed massive human rights abuses by Burundi’s government that could amount to crimes against humanity, and is urging for action including the establishing of an international commission of inquiry.
The UN Independent Investigation in Burundi documented hundreds of cases of summary executions in the East African country, alongside targeted assassinations, arbitrary detention, torture and sexual violence, it said in a statement.
Willy Nyamitwe, a spokesman for Burundi’s presidency, dismissed the report in comments on Twitter, saying it contained gossip and that the investigators hadn’t done their jobs properly.
The experts urged groups including the UN Human Rights Council and Security Council to set up the international commission and suggested the invocation of a UN charter if Burundi’s government failes to comply with a resolution to deploy a UN force into the country.
The violence in Burundi began in April 2015 following President Pierre Nkurunziza’s declaration that he would bid for a controversial third term in office, on that he went on to win in the July poll.
More than 470 people have been killed with thousands forced to flee to neighbouring countries.
