Burundi should break cycle of violence - UN

UN investigators have called on Burundi's new president to improve the country's human rights record and break the cycle of violence.

In a report, they asked President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was sworn in last month, to address violence committed by the ruling party’s youth wing, the Imbonerakure.

The report also asked Burundi's new government to cooperate with its investigation into human rights violations, allow the re-opening of its office in the country and release detained journalists.

Burundi’s representative at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva said the report was politically motivated.

President Ndayishimiye took over after the sudden death of former President Pierre Nkurunziza. He was already poised to become president after having won May's election as the candidate for the governing party.

While Mr Nkurunziza was still in power, BBC Africa Eye reported on Burundi's security services running secret torture sites to silence dissent. The government has always denied any human rights violations and declined to comment on that 2018 report.