Monkey Cage Is Burundi still a credible peacekeeper? By Nina Wilén, Gérard Birantamije and David Ambrosetti By Nina Wilén, Gérard Birantamije and David Ambrosetti May 23 May 23 A demonstrator raises her hands in the air as she faces A demonstrator raises her hands in the air as she faces soldiers in the Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura, Burundi. soldiers in the Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura, Burundi. The unit temporarily withdrew. The army has deployed The unit temporarily withdrew. The army has deployed throughout the town as hundreds return to the streets Monday throughout the town as hundreds return to the streets Monday to protest the president’s to protest the president’s decision to seek a third term in decision to seek a third term in office. (Jerome Delay/AP) office. (Jerome Delay/AP) Is a fresh post Is a fresh post- conflict state really the right conflict state really the right candidate to receive international military candidate to receive international military training and support? Burundi is the second training and support? Burundi is the second largest troop contributing country to the largest troop contributing country to the African Union’s Mis African Union’s Mis sion in Somalia, (AMISOM), sion in Somalia, (AMISOM), which hosts five rotating Burundian battalions, which hosts five rotating Burundian battalions, equivalent of more than equivalent of more than 5,000 troops on an all 5,000 troops on an all- around year basis. It became involved in peace around year basis. It became involved in peace operations allegedly by coincidence, as operations allegedly by coincidence, as Ethiopian troops pulled out troops and Ethiopian troops pulled out troops and AMISOM n AMISOM n eeded a new contributor in 2007. eeded a new contributor in 2007. Burundi at the time was not only in the midst of Burundi at the time was not only in the midst of an internal political crisis, but also in a fragile an internal political crisis, but also in a fragile security situation with South African troops on security situation with South African troops on the ground to supervise the ceasefire agreement the ground to supervise the ceasefire agreement