Unions in frantic efforts to save Burundi from genocide

Soldiers run from a house set afire by protestors opposed to the Burundian president's bid to stand for a third term in Butagazwa. The African Union says its proposed peacekeeping mission to Burundi will have a duty to guard against “potential infiltration by foreign militia” into the East African nation. AFP PHOTO | CARL DE SOUZA

What you need to know:

  • The proposals are contained in the Concept of Operations (CONOPs) for the African Prevention and Protection Mission in Burundi (MAPROBU), tabled on Thursday before the AU Council by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Smail Chergui.
  • Though no specific militia groups were mentioned, Burundi has recently accused Rwanda of supporting foreign rebel groups supposedly hiding in refugee camps in Rwanda, a charge Kigali denies.
  • On Friday, the UN team was due to meet President Nkurunziza and members of his ruling party; National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD).

The African Union says its proposed peacekeeping mission to Burundi will have a duty to guard against “potential infiltration by foreign militia” into the East African nation.

In the latest attempt to appease authorities in Bujumbura to accept the 5,000 troops, the AU Peace and Security Council on Thursday said the peacekeepers will mainly be charged with protecting civilians, key political leaders and other actors involved in peace talks.

The proposals are contained in the Concept of Operations (CONOPs) for the African Prevention and Protection Mission in Burundi (MAPROBU), tabled on Thursday before the AU Council by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Smail Chergui.

“The ultimate strategic object of MAPROBU is to help create an environment for achievement of lasting peace in Burundi. Protection of civilians, political personalities and other key actors will be central to [the mission’s] operations in Burundi,” the Algerian diplomat said on Thursday.

“MAPROBU will also be deployed to Burundi's borders to guard against potential infiltration by any foreign militia to destabilise Burundi,” he added.

RWANDA ACCUSED

Though no specific militia groups were mentioned, Burundi has recently accused Rwanda of supporting foreign rebel groups supposedly hiding in refugee camps in Rwanda, a charge Kigali denies.

Mr Chergui presented the CONOPs, a document that is supposed to detail the terms of engagement and operations for the mission, as a team of diplomats from the UN Security Council toured Burundi, for the second time, to “reinforce the need for credible political transition.”

US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, who is part of the 20-member delegation from the Council’s 15 member states said the visit was meant to convince Bujumbura to accept the proposed AU mission.

“We’ve seen escalating violence, climate of fear and tension before in Burundi. Immediate, inclusive political dialogue held outside Burundi vital,” she wrote on her Twitter page on Thursday evening.

PATH TO GENOCIDE

In December, the AU Peace and Security Council endorsed the deployment of 5, 000 troops from its regional Standby Force, after it argued Burundi was on the path to genocide.

It followed renewed violence in which 87 people were killed, bringing the number of those killed since April to 400, when President Pierre Nkurunziza declared to run for a controversial third term.

More than 230,000 have been displaced, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

The AU body initially said the soldiers will be on the ground regardless of consent from Burundi, but President Nkurunziza’s government vowed to attack the peacekeepers if they arrived without permission.

It is expected that AU leaders, due to meet in Addis Ababa next week, will discuss the situation in Burundi and probably also endorse the deployment of those troops.

But the Algerian diplomat was quick to point out on his Twitter page that the mission’s operational arrangement is “based on the assumption that Burundi government will give its consent.”

PEACE TALKS

Last month, the UNSC passed a resolution that called on the government and all parties to engage in non-violent talks for lasting peace.

The East African Community (EAC) led by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni initially organised talks which were moved to Arusha, Tanzania. But the talks were postponed indefinitely after Burundi government representatives failed to turn up.

EAC is composed of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

The UN team on Thursday met with former leaders of Burundi and who were part of earlier negotiations that ended civil strife in Burundi after signing the Arusha Accords. They also met with current leaders including First Vice President Gaston Sindimwo.

“We had frank discussion on political security situation in Burundi and the importance of Burundi Dialogue,” Mr Sindimwo, who comes from the Union for National Progress Party said on Twitter.

VETO POWERS

On Friday, the UN team was due to meet President Nkurunziza and members of his ruling party; National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD).

The UN Council is the most powerful UN body with responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

It has 15 Members, five of which hold veto powers, and could impose sanctions on countries or individuals thought to trouble world peace.

Currently, Senegal, Angola and Egypt are the AU members sitting on the UN Security Council as non-permanent members.