A/HRC/45/32 I. Introduction A. Mandate 1. The Commission of Inquiry on Burundi was created by Human Rights Council resolution 33/24, adopted on 30 September 2016, to conduct a thorough investigation into human rights violations and abuses committed in Burundi since April 2015, to determine whether any of them may constitute international crimes, to identify their alleged perpetrators and to formulate recommendations for ensuring that such perpetrators are held accountable for their acts. The mandate was extended for three additional one-year terms. In its resolution 42/26 adopted on 27 September 2019, the Human Rights Council also mandated the Commission to further investigate, inter alia, the respect and enjoyment of political, civil, economic and social rights in the electoral context, in particular with regard to the economic underpinnings of the State. 2. The membership of the Commission remains unchanged: Doudou Diène (Senegal), who has chaired the body since 1 February 2018; Lucy Asuagbor (Cameroon), a member since 5 March 2018; and Françoise Hampson (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), appointed on 22 November 2016. 3. The Commission has looked into violations and abuses committed since May 2019, paying special attention to those related to the May 2020 electoral process,1 and to violations of the rights of the child committed since 2015. As part of its investigation into the economic underpinnings of the Burundian State, it sought to identify practices in the country’s economy that were conducive to human rights violations. As part of its analysis of risk factors, it has identified those to be taken into account in the context of the current political transition. 4. In 2020, the Commission presented two oral briefings to the Human Rights Council. The present report summarizes the final conclusions of its investigations, which will be detailed in a separate document.2 B. Cooperation by Burundi with the Commission 5. The Human Rights Council once again requested the Government of Burundi to cooperate fully with the Commission, to authorize it to conduct visits to the country and to provide it with all the information necessary to carry out its mandate. The Commission sought to engage in a dialogue with the Burundian authorities through the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Burundi to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, in particular to allow for an exchange of information and to reflect the position of the Government of Burundi as much as possible in its report. All of the Commission’s correspondence went unanswered. C. Methodology 6. The Commission undertook visits to Uganda, Rwanda and the United Republic of Tanzania. Members of the Commission also met with representatives of the African Union, the European Union and various States. However, the health crisis related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the travel restrictions imposed by many States beginning in March 2020 prevented the Commission from making some planned visits. To adapt as best possible to the new constraints, the Commission carried out more remote interviews. During the fourth term of its mandate, it held a total of more than 300 face-to-face or remote interviews with victims, witnesses and other sources, residing either in Burundi or in other countries, in addition to the nearly 1,300 testimonials collected since the beginning of its 1 2 GE.20-10689 Information relating to the hill district (colline) elections of 24 August 2020 is only covered in additional document A/HRC/45/CRP.1, available on the Commission’s website. A/HRC/45/CRP.1. 3