The United Nations Security Council is considering sending up to 228 UN police to Burundi to monitor the security and human rights situation in the East African country where political violence has continued to be experienced for more than a year.
Reuters news agency reports that France gave the draft proposal to the 15-member council on Friday, seeking to deploy the police for one year and ask UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to report immediately on grave security incidents or human rights abuses.
Burundi’s UN Ambassador Albert Shingiro however said his country would only accept up to 50 unarmed UN police, adding that “the sovereignty of Burundi must be fully respected.”
The East African nation descended into war in April last year after President Pierre Nkurunziza declared his bid for a controversial third term in office, one which he went on to win in the July poll.
More than 450 people have been killed since the violence erupted, with thousands others forced to flee to neighbouring countries.
The violence in Burundi has caused alarm in a region where memories of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide remain raw.
The draft resolution “strongly urges the government of Burundi and all parties to cease and reject any kind of violence and condemn any public statement inciting violence or hatred.”
