UN ponders over MDF troops Burundi deployment

Malawi Defence Force (MDF) troops stationed in the Democratic Republic of Congo alongside troops from other nationalities could shortly be deployed to Burundi as part of a rapid UN peacekeeping force as political violence worsens in the east African country.

The UN Security Council on Thursday drafted a resolution to condemn rights abuses and further deterioration of the situation in Burundi following disputed elections that returned to power President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Among proposed actions is the deployment of UN troops currently stationed in DRC, UK’s Guardian newspaper reported on Friday quoting unspecified top UN diplomat.

But the report did not indicate the exact time frame for the proposal.

“One option is to get Monusco [The UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] troops from the DRC across the border into Burundi,” said one Security Council diplomat.

“The 20 000-strong Monusco force in DRC is backed up by a rapid reaction brigade made up of elite troops from South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania that could also be deployed,” the official told the UK newspaper.

But Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister George Chaponda on Friday expressed ignorance on the matter but said if Malawi was requested to avail its troops, it will likely comply.

“Most of the times such information does not come directly from UN, but through Sadc [Southern Africa Development Community] and as you know, the force in DRC also comprises South Africa and Tanzania. We are yet to receive any information on any requests or if that has come, then perhaps it has been sent directly to the President as Commander of the MDF or through the Ministry of Defence,” said Chaponda.

However, Chaponda had no doubts that if a formal request is made, Malawi Government would not hesitate to authorise the deployment of its contingent in DRC as part of an emergency peacekeeping force.

Malawi forces are mostly policing the volatile eastern Congo after the mandate for Monusco—the UN peacekeeping force—was extended from initial peacekeeping to peace enforcement to bring a military solution to the reoccurring conflict in the east of the vast resource rich Sadc member