Missing the Target: The African Union’s Mediating Efforts in Burundi

Abstract:

Burundi held a presidential election in July 2015, in which incumbent president Pierre Nkurunziza decided to take part for a third mandate despite the two-term limit agreed in the Constitution. Such decision produced violence and an attempted coup d'etat, even as the results of the election were still unknown, as well as acts of violence, repression or incitement to violence, including acts which constituted serious human rights violations. 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 illustrated the ups and downs of African Union’s involvement in Burundi. While the organisation had attempted to mediate the crisis, its failure to implement key decisions had also exposed important vulnerabilities that might have implications for future security challenges on the continent.

• Primary Source

EEAS: EU Relations with Burundi http://www.eeas.europa.eu/burundi/index_en.htm

Council of the European Union: Statement, STATEMENT/15/617 (23.07.15): Statement by High Representative Federica Mogherini on behalf of the European Union following the presidential election in Burundi http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/07/23-eeas-mogherini-burundi/

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