21 July 2015 – In a statement attributable to his spokesman, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called on all Burundian parties to facilitate the work of the UN observers and called, in particular, on the government to ensure their security as Burundi today holds presidential elections.

The Secretary-General recalled that the United Nations Electoral Observation Mission, in accordance with its Security Council mandate to observe the electoral process before, during and after the elections, continues to undertake this task and has deployed observers countrywide to that effect.

The Mission deployed 21 observers team present in all 18 provinces to monitor Tuesday’s scrutiny.

MENUB was inaugurated on 1 January 2015 according to Security Council resolution 2137. Since January 2015, MENUB officials have met with government officials, political party leaders, religious groups and leaders, media and civil society representatives to collect information on all aspects of the electoral process. At the same time, it deployed its observer teams throughout Burundi.

MENUB follows the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation endorsed at the United Nations in October 2005. The Mission performs on neutral and impartial basis. Its observation is conducted by professionals and based on national laws, international instruments and on the rules and principles applicable to election observation.