France proposed UN police forces for Burundi

France presented a draft resolution to the UN Security Council on Friday that calls for deploying up to 228 UN police to Burundi to monitor human rights and help quell violence in the African country.

The draft measure said the force would be deployed in Bujumbura and throughout Burundi for an initial period of one year, but that the size and mandate could change if violence worsens.

It remains unclear whether the government of Burundi would give its consent for the deployment, which would be required for the UN force to be dispatched.

Bujumbura has said it would not accept more than 50 UN police officers, but negotiations are ongoing on the proposed larger force.

Russia and Egypt have said they will support a UN police force only if the Bujumbura government agrees to its deployment.

The UN police force would be tasked with monitoring security and human rights in coordination with African Union rights observers and military experts.

Burundi has agreed to allow 100 AU rights observers and 100 AU military experts into the country to monitor the crisis, but fewer than 50 have in fact begun work on the ground.

The draft resolution urges the government to speed up the deployment of the AU monitors and to enter into dialogue with all opposition groups including “those outside the country” to end the crisis.