Burundi's government says it won't allow 5,000 peacekeeping troops to enter the country.

The African Union agreed last night to deploy a peacekeeping force for a period of 6 months to protect citizens after months of political violence.

"We will not allow foreign troops in Burundi. We don't need them," Presidential spokesperson Gervais Abayeho said.

The African Union has given the government 96 hours to co-operate and accept the deployment, warning that they reserve the right to enforce the decision.

Violence triggered by the disputed re-election of President Pierre Nkurunziza in July has claimed the lives of hundreds. Thousands have been arrested and an estimated 220,000 have fled the country.