A recently created African army, aimed at preventing another Rwandan-like atrocity, could see action in Burundi, which is on the verge of "possible genocide."

Nairobi, KENYA — When Lt Gen. Romeo Dallaire was informed he was leading a United Nations peacekeeping force to Rwanda in 1993, he replied, according to his memoir, "Rwanda, that's somewhere in Africa, isn't it?"

The peacekeeping force that Dallaire lead was hamstrung by its lack of resources and political will from Western nations. Roughly 800,000 people were killed in 100 days during the Rwandan genocide.

On Friday, African leaders requested that the East African Standby Force—the regional component of a continent-wide army created out of the failure to stop the genocide in Rwanda— expedite preparations to enter Burundi. It's the first time the force could be deployed, and would be a major test for the new paradigm of security on the continent: African solutions for African problems.

Since Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he would run for a third term in April, the East African nation has been upended by a slew of politically motivated killings, and the British Ambassador to the United Nations warned last week of a "possible genocide" in the country.

At least 240 people have been killed in Burundi since April, and government officials have used the phrase "go to work"— the same inflammatory language Hutu leaders used in the run-up to the Rwandan genocide. The most recent rise in tension occurred after a senior government official was assassinated, and security forces started going door-to-door to confiscate weapons.

In the capital, Bujumbura, residents on Monday described sporadic gunfire near the town center.

"People who are being killed are killed for political reasons. They are targeted according to their political parties. Otherwise if you are politically neutral you are safe everywhere" said a Burundian who wished to remain anonymous.

While the conflict appears to be between supporters and opponents of Nkurunziza, experts worry that it could evolve into a conflict based around ethnic affiliation.