Burundi government rejects UN police force, says not needed

BUJUMBURA, Burundi – Burundi's government has rejected the proposed deployment of up to 228 United Nations police to the East African nation to monitor human rights abuses and calm violence.

The announcement late Tuesday by government spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba follows a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing such a force.

Nzobonariba said Burundi's security forces are in control and that sending a foreign force without prior consultation with Burundian authorities would be a violation of the country's sovereignty.

Burundi has said it would accept no more than 50 U.N. police.

Burundi's government has also rejected the proposed deployment of 5,000 African Union peacekeepers.

The country has been in turmoil since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced plans in April 2015 to run for a third term, sparking violent protests.