South African troops to remain longer in Burundi, Zuma says

South Africa will retain its peacekeeping troops in Burundi until the country sets up its own security services, South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.

The South African Press Association (SAPA) quoted Zuma as saying that his country's participation in the Burundi peace process was for the benefit of South Africa. He was responding to questions in the South African National Assembly on whether the country should maintain the troops in Burundi.

SAPA reported that the cost of the deployment of the troops to Burundi has so far cost about 800 million rand (US $118.8 million).

Zuma was quoted as saying that South Africa could not be safe and stable on an unstable continent, hence the deployment.

Ethiopia, Mozambique and South Africa, the countries contributing troops to Burundi under the aegis of the African Union, completed deployment on 19 October with the arrival of 91 Mozambican troops in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura.

The arrival brought the African Mission in Burundi (AMIB) to full strength at 3,128 peacekeepers.

AMIB's mission is to help disarm, demobilise and reintegrate into society all rebel troops and to monitor the country's transition to democracy after 10 years of war. The deployment was also expected ease the way for greater humanitarian delivery to the country's displaced and war affected population.

Of the AMIB troops, Ethiopia is contributing 1,297 soldiers, Mozambique 202 and the rest are from South Africa.