UPDATE 1-SAfrica's Engen buys some of Total's ops in Africa

* Buys Total's ops in Guinea Bissau, Rwanda and Burundi

* Is financially strong to make more acquisitions

* To close deal with BP in Zimbabwe within next 6 mths (Adds detail)

CAPE TOWN, Nov 20 (Reuters) - South Africa's Engen petroleum company, majority owned by Malaysia's Petronas [PETR.UL], has acquired Total's operations in Guinea Bissau, Rwanda and Burundi, a senior official said on Thursday.

The deal, signed on July 31 in Paris and effective from Nov. 19, will see Engen take over Total's entire shareholding in its downstream businesses in Rwanda (Rwanda SARL) and in Total Burundi.

Engen also bought a 85.1-percent stake in Total Guinea Bissau and 50 percent of Aero Services SARL, with the remaining 50 percent held by Petrogal Guinea Bissau Ltd.

"We've been actively pursuing a growth programme in sub-Saharan Africa ... It is our intention to become a significant player in Africa," Wayne Hartmann, general manager for Engen's international business development unit said.

He said the deal was worth millions of dollars, without providing a final figure.

"We do have the financial resources to make acquisitions and grow our business," he said, adding Engen was pursuing an expansion strategy that would make it the No. 1 or 2 downstream petroleum products firm on the continent by 2016.