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The United Nations Security Council called on the conflicting factions in Burundi “to engage in peace talks” following concerns that the escalating violence in could plunge the Central African country into chaos.
Burundi plunged into turmoil in April, when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his bid to compete for a third presidential term. Amid an opposition boycott, he was re-elected for a third term in the July 2015 presidential election.
Opposition members argued the move was contrary to the constitution, which only allows two successive presidential terms.
The U.N. says the conflict in Burundi has threatened “hard-won stability” after decades of ethnic strife. The conflict could lead to “potentially devastating consequences” for the entire region if it persists and could lead to another civil war.
RELATED: Former Burundi Military Chief Killed
Often fought along ethnic lines, the last civil war killed around 300,000 people in Burundi between 1993 and 2005. Since then there have been sporadic relapses of violence, with the latest crisis drawing some of the worst episodes by far.
Meanwhile, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union will meet this Friday to review the situation in Burundi that has forced about 210,000 refugees to flee to neighboring countries including Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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