African Union defines peacekeeping mission

The African Union (AU) on Wednesday outlined the mandate of its 3,500-strong peacekeeping force, due to be deployed in Burundi within 60 days.

In a statement it said a meeting of the AU's conflict resolution body in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, approved a report on preparations for the deployment of the force, issued by the defence ministers of the countries supplying the troops - Ethiopia, Mozambique and South Africa.

The meeting of the AU Central Organ of the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution was chaired by Baso Sangqu, South Africa's permanent representative to the AU.

The peacekeeping force, to be known as the African Mission in Burundi (AMIB), was mandated to: oversee the implementation of ceasefire agreements, support disarmament and demobilisation initiatives and the reintegration of combatants, ensure favourable conditions for the establishment of a UN peacekeeping mission, and contribute to political and economic stability in Burundi, according to an AU statement.

The AU said the force was expected to remain in Burundi for an initial one-year period, to be renewed every six months, pending its replacement by a UN peacekeeping force.

South Africa, as the AMIB lead nation, would facilitate planning, establishing and deployment of the force. "It will lead the military component and provide the core of the force. The current South African Protection Support Detachment and the African Union Military observers are to be subsequently incorporated into the African Mission," said the AU statement.

The AU said the force would comprise military and "limited" civilian components, led by a head of mission. Ethiopia would provide one battalion and two additional companies, Mozambique one company and South Africa a battalion and "other elements".

The force commander would be appointed by South Africa and the deputy force commander by Ethiopia.

The AU conflict resolution body urged all parties in Burundi to cooperate in facilitating deployment of the force. It also urged the AU chairperson to set up a special trust fund through which AU member states could make voluntary contributions to cover the costs of the force's deployment.