African Union will deploy peacekeepers to Burundi

The African Union on Friday authorized sending 5,000 peacekeepers to Burundi to stop the unrest there from deteriorating further over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s extended tenure in office.

An African Prevention and Protection Mission will be deployed to Burundi for at least 6 months and the mission can be extended, the group’s Peace and Security Council said.

The force’s mandate will include protecting civilians and helping to create conditions for holding inter-Burundian dialog.

There has been growing unrest in Burundi since Nkurunziza was re-elected in July for a third term. The move was opposed by many Burundianswho say it violates the country’s constitutional 2-term limit.

Nkurunziza argues that his first term in office does not count because he was elected by parliament and not by the people.

Burundi’s Constitutional Court voted in favor of Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term in office – but the deputy president said the court’s decision was due to coercion.

Source The Associated Press.