AU ready to deploy East African Stanby Force to Burundi

The African Union Commission could deploy a standby force to Burundi to prevent a “genocide” in the wake of escalating violence in the country.

A plan to call on the East African Standby Force as a contingency measure was discussed at the 565th African Union Commission Peace and Security Council meeting in Addis Ababa on Thursday, December 17.

Members of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) led by the director of the Peace and Security Department, El-Ghassim Wane, raised the urgent need for action to stop the killings in Burundi.

Dir. AU_PSD Mr elghassimw briefs #PSC on contingency planning by #AUC for deploy’t of an African Force in #Burundi pic.twitter.com/ZmjUFOJGv5

— African Union Peace (@AU_PSD) December 17, 2015

The PSC jointly agreed that “Africa will not allow another genocide to take place on its soil.”

Africa will NOT allow another Genocide to take place on its soil: #PSC Members reiterate.

— African Union Peace (@AU_PSD) December 17, 2015

Meanwhile, the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui said on his Twitter page that there was “a very clear message coming out of the ongoing PSC meeting: the killings in Burundi must stop immediately.”

A very Clear message coming out of the ongoing PSC meeting: the killings in #Burundi must stop immediately. https://t.co/NaPpdelguv

— Amb. Smail Chergui (@AU_Chergui) December 17, 2015

The PSC is preparing a final communique.

#PSC has concluded its 565th Meeting, its last scheduled meeting in 2015. Communique on #Burundi will be issued as soon as finalized.

— African Union Peace (@AU_PSD) December 17, 2015

Eighty seven people were killed in clashes in Burundi on Friday as part of a “sweep operation”, according to the Burundian army.

A trial has also began for 28 people made up of Generals and senior army officers implicated in the failed coup in May.

The East African Standby Force is one of five regional forces comprising the African Standby Force. It includes personnel from Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.

Africanews is launching online at the beginning of next month to deliver stories from across Africa with local insight and regional perspectives. Until then you can get a preview of its content on Twitter and Facebook