Steps taken by the South African Government to prevent the volatile situation in Burundi from escalating, the position on the decision by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union not to intervene in Burundi, and on the deployment of a peacekeeping force to Burundi
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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO: 427 (NW440E)
PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 2-2016 OF 19 FEBRUARY 2016
Mr S Mokgalapa (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:
(1) What steps has the Government taken to prevent the volatile situation in Burundi from escalating;
(2) what is the Government’s position on the decision by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union not to intervene in Burundi;
(3) what is the Government’s position on the deployment of a peacekeeping force to Burundi?
REPLY:
(1) South Africa is concerned about the security situation in Burundi and that the Government has called for an inclusive dialogue that would include all the relevant stakeholders. As a former mediator in Burundi, South Africa supports the EAC-led mediation and remains ready and will continue to support the people of Burundi to achieve stability and development.
(2) There is no African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) decision not to intervene in Burundi.
(3) South Africa is a member of the AUPSC and therefore South Africa was part of the AU Council that took a decision not to deploy the African Prevention and Protection Mission in Burundi (MAPROBU) because it was felt it would be premature to send such a force to Burundi. Instead, the AU Council decided to lend its support to the political dialogue process led by the President of Uganda, hence the decision to dispatch an AU High Level delegation led by South Africa to engage the Government of Burundi and all relevant stakeholders on the need to start the inclusive political dialogue, end violence and facilitate the return of refugees.
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