Ban Ki-moon: African leaders need to speak in one voice to avert Burundi crisis

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on African leaders to stay united and speak in one voice to avert more violence in Burundi.

Ban made the remarks on Sunday at the African Union summit in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.

“I’ve been urging African leaders to speak and act in one voice. This is a matter of human dignity and human rights. The longer this situation continues the more people will be killed and affected, and we have almost one million people who have been affected, refugees and displaced people, we cannot wait any longer.”

African heads of state have not agreed on the sending of a prevention and protection force in Burundi, with some African states are opposed to sending peacekeepers to Burundi without its consent. Burundi on its part has said it would view such forces as invaders, although the African Union charter allows a force to be sent against the will of a host country, if there is a risk of serious violence.

The AU, however, has decided to send a delegation to President Pierre Nkurunziza to convince him to change his mind on the issue.