Burundi president warns AU to stay away

Burundian President Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza said on Wednesday he would fight a proposed African Union peacekeeping force if they set foot on Burundian soil in defiance of intense global pressure to accept them.

Pierre Nkurunziza.

"Everybody should respect the borders of Burundi. If the troops are in violation of this decision, they will have attacked Burundi and each Burundian must stand up to fight them," Nkurunziza said in the national language Kirundi, in a speech broadcast on state radio.


"The country will have been attacked and we will fight them." The president earlier rejected the AU's plans to deploy 5 000 peacekeepers, describing it as an invasion force.

At least 400 people have died since April when it was announced that Nkurunziza would run for a third term in office. Violent street demonstrations opposing Nkurunziza's bid for a third term, led to an attempted coup in May.

A rebel movement has emerged, vowing to oust Nkukunziza. said on Wednesday he would fight a proposed African Union peacekeeping force if they set foot on Burundian soil in defiance of intense global pressure to accept them.

"Everybody should respect the borders of Burundi. If the troops are in violation of this decision, they will have attacked Burundi and each Burundian must stand up to fight them," Nkurunziza said in the national language Kirundi, in a speech broadcast on state radio.

"The country will have been attacked and we will fight them." The president earlier rejected the AU's plans to deploy 5 000 peacekeepers, describing it as an invasion force.

At least 400 people have died since April when it was announced that Nkurunziza would run for a third term in office. Violent street demonstrations opposing Nkurunziza's bid for a third term, led to an attempted coup in May. A rebel movement has emerged, vowing to oust Nkukunziza.