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Former Burundian Presidents Appeal for Peacekeeping Force

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Young men hold a banner on the road that the convoy of the United Nations Security Council delegation took in Bujumbura, Burundi, Jan. 21, 2016.
Young men hold a banner on the road that the convoy of the United Nations Security Council delegation took in Bujumbura, Burundi, Jan. 21, 2016.

Two former Burundian presidents have appealed to the U.N. Security Council to press the current government to accept an African Union-led peacekeeping force.

Former presidents Domitien Ndayizeye and Jean-Baptiste Bagaza met Thursday with a council delegation, which is on a quick visit to Bujumbura to try to stem the political violence that has killed at least 439 people since April.

"We really need this force," said Ndayizeye, who led the country from 2003 to 2005.

'Stop this bloodletting'

"We need to stop this bloodletting in Burundi which is causing our youth to disappear," Bagaza added.

Burundi's first Vice President Gaston Sindimwo, third from right, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power take a photograph at his residence in Bujumbura, Jan. 22, 2016.
Burundi's first Vice President Gaston Sindimwo, third from right, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power take a photograph at his residence in Bujumbura, Jan. 22, 2016.

UNICEF reports that 22 children have been killed by gunfire or grenades since April, and more than 200 have been arbitrarily arrested and detained. In both cases, most are boys.

Bagaza, who ruled the country from 1976 to 1987, urged the council to get "fully involved." Otherwise, he warned, "we risk becoming another Rwanda case."

Burundi's President, Pierre Nkurunziza, is firmly opposed to a peacekeeping force.

Council mission

The council arrived in Burundi's capital late Thursday afternoon on its second visit in less than a year.

Hundreds of Burundi citizens line the road as the U.N. Security Council delegation arrived Jan. 21, 2016. (M. Besheer/VOA)
Hundreds of Burundi citizens line the road as the U.N. Security Council delegation arrived Jan. 21, 2016. (M. Besheer/VOA)

Hundreds of citizens lined the road leading from the airport, waving at and cheering the delegation. Many were pro-government demonstrators.

The delegation is expected to meet with Nkurunziza on Friday. The group also plans to interact with civil society and political party leaders.

Human rights violations

Human rights groups have expressed deepening concern about the situation.

"The ambassadors should use their time in Bujumbura to persuade President Pierre Nkurunziza to accept a strong U.N. political mission with a substantial international police force, and sections on human rights, justice and political analysis," said Carina Tertsakian, a Burundi expert at Human Rights Watch.

She said the goal of such a mission would be to reduce abuses by both sides and encourage peaceful solutions to the crisis.

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