Burundian gov't urges AU Peace and Security Council to eyewitness the country's situation
Xinhua, January 25, 2016 Adjust font size:
The Burundian government Sunday called on the African Union Peace and Security Council to visit Burundi in an attempt to realize that the deployment of foreign troops into the country is unnecessary.
In a statement, Burundian Government Spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba thanked the United Nations Security Council for carrying out a two-day visit in Burundi last week to eyewitness the country's situation.
"The Burundian government takes this opportunity to invite the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council to make a similar visit in order to eyewitness the political and security situation currently prevailing in Burundi," said Burundian Government Spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba in the statement.
"The Burundian government remains convinced that decisions taken by the AU Peace and Security Council including the deployment of foreign troops (into Burundi) were decided based on erroneous and manipulated reports, disregarding the country's deep reality,"he added.
Meanwhile, before leaving Bujumbura International Airport on Friday night, Samantha Power, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN and member of the UN Security Council panel said that the Burundian government should be prepared for the deployment of AU troops.
On Dec. 17, 2015, the AU Peace and Security Council issued a resolution on the deployment of 5,000 troops into Burundi to prevent genocide or massive killings, but the Burundian government decided to fight against those troops if they set their feet on the country's territory.
Since April 2015, with the outbreak of protests against the third term bid of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza and his controversial re-election in July 2015, violence has left over 400 dead in the east African nation. Enditem