Updated

The African Union says it will deploy rights observers and military monitors to violence-plagued Burundi following a visit to the country by five African leaders.

The AU said in a statement Saturday that Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza supports the deployment of 100 military monitors and 100 human rights observers. Nkurunziza had previously opposed the deployment of AU peacekeepers.

The leaders of Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania, Senegal and South Africa visited Burundi this week to encourage peace talks between Nkurunziza and his opponents.

The AU statement said President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda is expected to convene all-inclusive talks.

Burundi has been wracked by violence since April 2015, when Nkurunziza announced he would seek a third term despite street protests.