AU backs down deploying peacekeepers without Burundi's consent

African Union has resolved to send a team to Burundi to try to convince the government to accept a peacekeeping force that it had rejected, backing away from an earlier plan to send them with or without consent.

The council had planned to deploy a 5,000-strong force in December to which they figured being unlawful.

“The summit has decided to send a high level delegation to negotiate with the government on two things. First of all the need to accept dialogue and then allow peacekeepers to be deployed.Lets hope Burundi accepts,” said Smail Chegui, AU commissioner for peace and peace.

“We remain open to cooperate with the international community, and the African Union in particular. But we must do so on the basis of principles, without which our government will remain firm,” affirmed Alain Aime, Burundi Foreign Affairs minister.

The delay will worry Western powers, who fear Burundi will fall back into ethnic conflict without intervention. U.N. rights officials have said Burundi needs a beefed up international presence to help settle the matter at hand.