The US Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa warned that Burundi is at risk of genocide thought it was “not yet present reality”, amidst ongoing unrest in the country.
In an interview, Thomas Perriello said that the crime of genocide is a risk, stating, “We have seen very dangerous signals from senior government officials about what makes this conflict more ethnic in nature”.
“But its also for the government and others to note that genocide is not the only serious international crime,” he added. “There is torture or extrajudicial killing that is still a serious crime. So we certainly continue to track ethnic language but also look at additional crimes.”
Mr Perriello said the recently announced sanctions “are the latest in a series of steps by the United States, the European Union, the African Union and the United Nations to ensure consequences for... repressive acts”.
“We want to get the peace process started so the people of Burundi have the chance for peace and for an open democratic society that they so clearly desire and there will consequences for those who push in a different direction,” he added.
See his full interview here.
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