Burundi crisis: African Union plans to deploy peacekeepers

The African Union (AU) has announced a plan to send 5,000 peacekeepers to protect civilians in Burundi, even without the government’s consent.

The proposal was approved by the AU’s Peace and Security Council but will need to get the backing of the UN. On Thursday the AU said it would not allow genocide to take place in Burundi.

But Burundi said if the AU sent troops with the government’s consent it would consider the move “an attack” on it.

Government official Philippe Nzobonariba told the BBC Great Lakes service that the legal process should be followed, and suggested that a peacekeeping force would be better employed in Rwanda.

Burundi has previously accused its neighbour of training rebels seeking to destabilize the country.

Source: BBC