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Media Notice
London/ Cape Town, 23rd March 2016
Embargo: Immediate
Contact: Tamara Dancheva, Head of Human Rights Programme, Liberal International, +44 20 7839 5905 Luke Akal, ALN Coordinator +27 81 481 3754
ALN Vice President to address UN Human Rights Council: Burundi needs “rapid deployment of peace-keeping troops”
Vice President of the Africa Liberal Network Médard Mulangala – a former contender for the presidency of the Democratic Republic of Congo* – will address the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday 23rd March 2016 on behalf of the Liberal International and the Africa Liberal Network to draw attention to the escalating humanitarian and political crisis unfolding in neighbouring Burundi.
Mr. Mulangala will tell the UN member states that they must:
“exert all of their diplomatic, logistical and financial influence for the rapid deployment of peace-keeping troops to Burundi. The African and international community cannot, and must not, sit by and allow for more violence to take place.”
The statement follows the African Union (AU) High Level Delegation of African heads of state to Burundi. The ALN and LI remain highly concerned regarding the lack of tangible outcomes of these meetings and the lack of strong response from the AU. Together, we call for inclusive, peaceful dialogue and the protection of innocent civilians at any cost. It is unacceptable that over 400 lives have been lost under the presidency of Pierre Nkurunziza
ENDS
Note to Editors:
– *Mr Medard Mulangala is President of the Union pour la Majorité Républicaine and a leader of the opposition umbrella group, Union Sacree pour l’Alternance, in the Congolese parliament. In 2011, Mr. Mulangala was seen as a leading candidate in the presidential elections in the DRC – a unifying figure who could bring together different groups from Congolese society against Joseph Kabila. During the 2011 campaign, Mr. Mulangala was the first Congolese politician to be interviewed by renowned journalist David Frost on the Al Jazeera English network.
– The oral statement will be delivered in Salle XX, Palais des Nations, Genève and can be viewed here between 12:00-15:00 (GMT+1).
– The ALN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the deteriorating situation in Burundi in January 2016. Building on this, LI issued a joint statement with ALN as recently as 27th February, calling on African leaders to intervene in the crisis.
– Liberal International (LI) is the world federation of over 100 liberal and progressive democratic political parties and affiliates. LI was founded in 1947 to strengthen liberal protection from totalitarianism and communism. It has since become the pre-eminent network for promoting liberalism, individual freedom, human rights, the rule of law, tolerance, equality of opportunity, social justice, free trade and a market economy.
– The Africa Liberal Network (ALN) is the largest network of African political parties and the second largest globally, outside Europe. The ALN consists of 47 member parties with the aim promoting Liberal Democratic principles across the African continent by 1) providing a platform for like-minded liberals in Africa to share information, experience, skills, and ideas, and 2) capacitating our member parties with the skills they need to win elections and run governments based on Liberal values.
