AU to strengthen human rights mission in Burundi

The African Union delegation in Burundi will increase its human rights and military observers in the crisis-stricken country, South African president and delegation head Jacob Zuma said in a statement Saturday.

"The AU will deploy 100 human rights observers and 100 military monitors to Burundi to monitor the situation," said the statement, posted on the South African presidency's website.

Led by Zuma and composed of the presidents of Mauritania, Senegal and Gabon, as well as Ethiopia's prime minister, the delegation visited the capital Bujumbura on Thursday and Friday to try find a solution to the political deadlock that has engulfed Burundi for 10 months.

The group met President Pierre Nkurunziza, two of the few opposition leaders still in the country, religious authorities, civil society representatives and a former president.

The vast majority of opposition leaders and independent civil society representatives are currently in exile.|

The AU delegation "expressed its concerns about the levels of violence, loss of life, and the general state of political instability in the country", said the statement.

"We believe strongly that the solution to Burundi's political problems can be attained only through inclusive and peaceful engagement."

South African President Jacob Zuma, head of five African heads of state delegation, speaks on February 27, 2016 in Bujum

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, the AU's mediator in the ongoing crisis, "will convene an inclusive dialogue that will be attended by all important stakeholders as soon as possible".

The AU also called on the international community "to restore the provision of assistance to Burundi as requested by the people of Burundi".

Burundi has been plunged in political crisis since Nkurunziza's controversial decision in April last year to run for a third term, which he went on to win in a July election.

He's been accused of violating the constitution, as well as the Arusha Accord that brought an end to the country's 1993-2006 civil war, which left about 300,000 people dead.

Over 400 people have been killed in the latest unrest, and more than 240,000 have left the country, with violent attacks becoming the norm in the months since.