UN asks ICC to investigate Burundi 'crimes against humanity' [The Morning Call]

The United Nations has asked the International Criminal Court to investigate whether human-rights violations committed in Burundi constitute crimes against humanity.

A probe by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi found that the authorities in the East African nation committed crimes including extrajudicial executions, torture and enforced disappearances over the past two years.

According to a report published on Monday, the perpetrators include “high-level officials” in the National Intelligence Services and the police.

The UN commission says it wants the International Criminal Court to open an investigation “as soon as possible.”

It explained its findings were based on several months of investigations that involved interviews with more than 500 witnesses.

For the first time in such a report, Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza is named as one of the perpetrators of these crimes.

The opposition in Burundi has welcomed the conclusions of the UN fact-finding mission.