African Union Preparing To Send 5,000 Peacekeepers To Burundi

Reuters: African Union readies 5,000 peacekeepers for Burundi crisis

The African Union said on Friday it was preparing to send 5,000 peacekeepers to Burundi to protect civilians caught up in a growing crisis, for the first time using powers to deploy troops to a member country against its will.

Burundi dismissed the announcement, saying no foreign force would get in without permission. But its neighbours have grown increasingly alarmed about the violence in the central African state which the United Nations says is on the brink of civil war.

Tensions have been running particularly high since gunmen attacked military sites in the capital Bujumbura last week, unnerving a region where memories of the 1994 genocide in neighbouring Rwanda are still raw.

WNU Editor: This is going to get messy .... especially if the Burundi government objects to this deployment..

More News On The African Union Preparing To Send 5,000 Peacekeepers To Burundi

African Union will deploy troops in Burundi even if government objects -- Financial Times
Burundi unrest: African Union to send in 5,000 peacekeepers -- The Guardian/AP
African Union proposes 5,000 peacekeepers for strife-torn Burundi -- CNN
Burundi crisis: African Union plans to deploy peacekeepers -- BBC
US sanctions Burundi nationals for 'fueling violence' -- AFP
How Burundi's crisis began, and why it matters -- AFP
Will peacekeeper plan help end Burundi violence? -- Samuel Okiror, IRIN

Update: Burundi Rejects African Union Peacekeeping Force (AP).