with the Government of Burundi”, and “to make recommendations for technical assistance and capacity building”. On 29 September, the Council also renewed the Commission of Inquiry’s mandate for another year. Discussions between the UN and the government on the reopening of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Burundi had not reached a conclusion by the end of the year. Burundi’s withdrawal from the ICC came into effect on 27 October. Two days earlier, the Pre-Trial Chamber authorized an investigation into the situation in Burundi, a decision made public in November. The AU Peace and Security Council did not meet to discuss Burundi in 2017, despite the continued presence of AU human rights observers and military experts in the country at the Council’s request. CAMBODIA Kingdom of Cambodia Head of state: King Norodom Sihamoni Head of government: Hun Sen The crackdown on human rights defenders, media, civil society and the political opposition intensified ahead of elections scheduled for July 2018. The authorities’ misuse of the justice system continued. New criminal charges were brought against serving and former leaders of the main opposition party. The authorities increased pressure on civil society including by conducting surveillance of human rights workers and restricting or shutting down organizations monitoring elections. Media freedom and diversity were dramatically reduced. Human rights defenders continued to be monitored, threatened, arrested and imprisoned. Montagnard asylum-seekers faced forcible return to Viet Nam. BACKGROUND The prospect of a close general election in 2018 led to an unstable political environment and threats to human rights. In February, 110 Sam Rainsy stood down as leader of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) to avoid party dissolution because of his 2016 conviction on criminal charges. The lead-up to the June 2017 commune elections was marked by threatening rhetoric from the Prime Minister and other senior government and military officials. The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) won control of 70% of communes. In September, the UN Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia for a further two years. On 16 November, the CNRP was dissolved amid allegations of being part of a purported USfunded “colour revolution” to topple the current regime. FREEDOMS OF EXPRESSION AND ASSOCIATION Harassment of the political opposition and civil society through misuse of the criminal justice system escalated in an apparent attempt to hamper activities ahead of the 2018 general election.1 Amendments to the Law on Political Parties in February and July gave the Ministry of Interior and courts new powers over political parties and barred individuals convicted of a criminal offence from holding leadership positions. In March, Sam Rainsy was convicted of “defamation and incitement to commit a felony” for claiming on social media that the July 2016 murder of political commentator Kem Ley was an act of “state-sponsored terrorism”. Political commentator Kim Sok was convicted on the same charges in August for allegedly linking the government to the murder in a radio interview. Following the commune elections, the Ministry of Interior ordered a local election monitoring coalition to cease its activities. In August, the US-based National Democratic Institute was expelled from Cambodia for alleged regulatory violations. Also in August, more than 30 FM radio frequencies were silenced. Radio stations were alleged to have violated their contracts with the government by “overselling” air time to broadcasting programmes from the US- Amnesty International Report 2017/18