UN Secretary-General Requests Troop Presence in Zaire Amidst Burundian Crisis

Strategic Insights -

The situation in Burundi continues to deteriorate as the interim government struggles to name a new president, with elections scheduled for August 26. The UN Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, has requested that troops from France and other countries assisting Rwandan refugees in Zaire remain in the region, citing concerns about the potential for a similar crisis to erupt in Burundi. UN senior political adviser Alvaro de Soto warned that the ethnic and political conflicts in Burundi could lead to a similar humanitarian disaster to that experienced in Rwanda.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Burundian crisis is characterized by ethnic and political tensions, with the Hutu and Tutsi tribes competing for power and control.
  • Over 500,000 refugees and displaced people are in Burundi, including those who fled neighboring Rwanda during the conflict.
  • The UN Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, has requested that troops from France and other countries remain in Zaire, citing concerns about the potential for a similar crisis to erupt in Burundi.
  • The Burundian government has refused to allow a UN humanitarian presence at the airport in the capital, Bujumbura, despite potential concerns about an explosion of violence.
  • The UN Charter does not allow UN intervention without a country's request, and the Burundian opposition parties have rejected the idea of a UN military intervention.

Statistics:

  • 500,000 refugees or displaced people in Burundi (Source: UN senior political adviser Alvaro de Soto)
  • 2,600 French and African troops that will be out of the protection zone in Rwanda's southwest by Sunday (Source: French government announcement)
  • Over 1,000 people killed in Burundian tribal and politically motivated killings (Source: UN observers)
  • The Burundian interim government's July 12 deadline to name a new president was postponed (Source: UN announcement)

Sources:

  • "U.N. Secretary-General Requests Troop Presence in Zaire Amidst Burundian Crisis" by RYM BRAHIMI (August 19)
  • "U.N. Observers Fear Burundian Elections Could Spark Crisis" by RYM BRAHIMI (August 19)
  • Alvaro de Soto, UN senior political adviser
  • French government announcement
  • UN announcement