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African Union to deploy military monitors, rights observers to Burundi

Saturday, 27 February 2016 2:02 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 27 February 2016 2:01 PM ]

Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza (R) welcomes South Africa's President Jacob Zuma upon arrival in Bujumbura, on February 25, 2016, during the visit of a delegation of five African heads of state. (AFP Photo)

The African Union said Saturday Burundi has agreed with the deployment of 100 AU military monitors and the same number of human rights observers to the country.

Following a visit to the African country by five African leaders, the union announced in a statement that Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has agreed with the move.

President Nkurunziza had opposed any deployment of such AU peacekeepers to Burundi.

The presidents of South Africa, Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania and Senegal had been appointed by the AU to travel to Burundi this week in an attempt to find a way to make peace between the Burundian government and the opposition.

The representative of the African Union (center) speaks on February 27, 2016 in Bujumbura, Burundi, as President Pierre Nkurunziza (left) and South African President Jacob Zuma (2-L) listen. (AFP photo)

Prior to the AU delegation’s visit, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon held talks with Nkurunziza to help halt the violence in the country.

The UN has warned on several occasions that Burundi is on the brink of a civil war.

The country plunged into turmoil in late April 2015, when Nkurunziza announced his decision to run for a third consecutive five-year term as president.

The move was denounced by the opposition as contrary to the country’s constitution and a 2006 peace deal that ended 13 years of civil war.

Despite the objections, Nkurunziza was reelected as president in July 2015 for a third term.

According to the UN, violence has left at least 400 people dead in Burundi since April 26, 2015. About 240,000 people have also fled due to the turmoil.

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