East Africa Standby Forces will be deployed in Burundi, says Somali president

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said East Africa Standby Force (EAFS) will be deployed in Burundi amid the government of Burundi turned down AU suggestion to take peace keeping forces in Burundi.

Speaking to BBC Focus on Africa, the president highlighted that the troops will be dialogue facilitating forces which will protect wherever there is vulnerability.

“They will not go there as fighting forces but they facilitate dialogues and protect the vulnerable areas” said President Hassan.

Meanwhile the president underlined that the forces will be only deployed in accordance with consent of Burundi government.

“East Africa Standby Forces will be sent to Burundi but if Government of Burundi does not want that then there is no way that we will send forces there” the president stated.

President Hassan said Somalia has long time experience on the consequence of conflict is over 26 years.

African Union has severally invited Burundi’s government to talks in an attempt to restore peace, as violence spurred by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s re-election left dozens of people dead across the nation.

Several mysterious killings in Burundi, where memories of civil war are still fresh, have spread fear and disrupted livelihoods, while authorities have sought to play down talk of renewed armed insurrection, blaming some of the deaths on bandits.