Burundi To Adjust CAR Peacekeeping Operations Upon African Union, UN Decision - Ambassador

Burundi is ready to bring its peacekeeping operations in the Central African Republic (CAR) into conformity with the CAR peace deal if such assistance is needed and the African Union and the United Nations make the relevant decision, Burundi Ambassador to Russia Edouard Bizimana told Sputnik

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2019) Burundi is ready to bring its peacekeeping operations in the Central African Republic (CAR) into conformity with the car peace deal if such assistance is needed and the African Union and the United Nations make the relevant decision, Burundi Ambassador to Russia Edouard Bizimana told Sputnik.

Burundi has been participating in CAR peacekeeping efforts since 2014 as part of a multidimensional United Nations peacekeeping operation called MINUSCA. It is one of the top 10 troop contributing countries alongside Rwanda, Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Zambia, Cameroon, Morocco, Mauritania and Gabon.

"Well, this will depend on the decision of the African Union and the UN, of course, but Burundi is always ready to support.

Whenever they call on Burundi to provide troops, Burundi is always ready to send its people to help others," Bizimana said, asked whether Burundi planned to adjust its peacekeeping operations in the country after a CAR peace deal had recently been reached.

On February 5, CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera and leaders of 14 armed groups initialed the peace agreement at talks in Khartoum. The following day, the deal was finalized and inked in the CAR capital of Bangui.

The Central African Republic has been suffering from a drawn-out conflict since a coup in 2013. Much of the fighting in recent years has been between Muslim-majority Seleka and Christian Anti-Balaka militias.