Burundi, a small land-locked nation in East Africa, has been in political turmoil since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced in April that he would run for a third term, despite the nation’s constitutional limit of two terms. Nkurunziza subsequently won the July presidential election.

Opposition responses included violent protests, a boycott of the election, and an attempted military coup. More than 240 people have died and 200,000 have fled the country due to violence triggered by the elections.

Burundi’s government has responded with increasing hostility towards the opposition. International concern has risen after Nkurunziza issued an ultimatum for Burundians to give up all weapons by November 7, promising to use violent methods to search homes for weapons and opposition figures after the deadline.

Statements by Burundi’s government have raised an outcry for echoing language used in the 1994 Rwandan genocide in which a Hutu majority killed more then 800,000 Tutsis and Hutu Moderates. Nkurunziza, a Hutu, leads the 85 percent Hutu-majority nation, and much of his opposition comes from the Tutsi minority. Nkurunziza was elected in 2005 following a 12-year civil war that killed 300,000 and was fought between Hutu and Tutsi groups. The constitution established a two-term limit to allow for sharing of power between these two groups.

“People are being killed every day, bodies are found on the streets… Leaders are spending time killing people”, said Rwandan President Paul Kagame, condemning those perpetuating the violence.

The world has taken notice of Burundi’s escalating situation. Both the United Nations and the African Union have begun discussing solutions, but no steps have been taken to actively prevent violence in the country.

The UN adopted a resolution on November 12 condemning ongoing killings and human rights violations in Burundi, suggesting sanctions for those perpetuating violence, and calling on Burundi’s government to immediately convene an inclusive and genuine inter-Burundian dialogue. The resolution also calls on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to report back with options for the UN regarding Burundi within 15 days

The African Union has authorized the deployment of 100 observers, but it remains to be seen whether they will actually be deployed. The A.U. also plans to send officials to Kampala, Uganda to start a dialogue between Burundi’s government and opposition leaders.

United States President Barack Obama called on Burundi’s leaders and citizens to put aside division and end violence in a video statement on Saturday.

The political situation in Burundi has received so much international attention because the government shows no sign of easing its crackdown on the opposition. Violence and tensions are continuing to escalate—Burundi is in urgent need of action. The international community needs to do more than threaten sanctions and condemn Burundi’s leaders. Both the African Union and the United Nations have the ability do send peacekeeping troops into the country, and international pressure would be effective in pushing the country’s leaders to open dialogues.

Opposition leaders have urged these organizations to send peacekeepers and follow through with sanctions. Timing is critical; if the international community does not act soon tensions may escalate into civil war, ethnic killings, or military coups as the country becomes unstable.