UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned African leaders Saturday of the need for action in troubled Burundi at a summit aiming to end armed crises across the continent, AFP reports.
African Union leaders face an unprecedented vote on deploying a 5,000-strong peacekeeping force despite Burundi's vehement opposition, but Ban was clear troops were needed to stem the violence.
"Leaders who stand by while civilians are slaughtered in their name must be held responsible," Ban said, insisting that the Burundi crisis required the "most serious and urgent commitment".