Recently, several hundred South Africa soldiers were sent to Burundi
A
to side with the Tutsi tribe in the country's civil war
B
to side with the Hutu tribe in the ongoing ethnic conflict
C
as a part of United Nations special force to keep control on the ethnic groups revolting against the government
D
as South Africa's protection force to help mediate and agreement between warring groups of civil war
Correct Answer: Option D
Explanation
1. The question refers to the deployment of several hundred South African soldiers to Burundi around 2001.
2. Burundi was experiencing a protracted civil war involving complex ethnic and political dimensions, primarily between Hutu and Tutsi groups.
3. South Africa, under President Thabo Mbeki, played a significant role in mediating peace talks and facilitating a transitional government in Burundi based on the Arusha Accords.
4. As part of this peace process, South Africa deployed troops to Burundi in late 2001. This force was not officially a UN force (Option C) at its inception, nor was it to take sides with specific tribes (Options A and B).
5. Its primary mandate was to provide protection for returning opposition leaders and to help stabilize the situation, essentially acting as South Africa's protection force to help mediate an agreement and secure the peace process between the warring groups (Option D). This later evolved into an African Union mission.