Missing the target: The African Union’s mediating efforts in Burundi
In December 2015, following violent confrontations between the Burundian army and rebel groups, the African Union issued a communiqué to deploy a 5,000-strong peacekeeping mission. However, African heads of state tabled the plan, calling for the approval of the Burundian government. The Peace and Security Council’s decision to deploy the mission followed by the body’s inability to follow through illustrates the ups and downs of African Union’s recent involvement in Burundi. While the organisation has attempted to mediate the crisis, its failure to implement key decisions has also exposed important vulnerabilities that may have implications for future security challenges on the continent.
(Photo credit: Shacon, Flickr)