News, Slideshow, Somali News & Politics

Burundi Reaffirms Its Support To AMISOM

March 17, 2016March 17, 2016
0

Mogadishu,  – The Burundi government has reaffirmed its commitment to continue being part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to help Somalia achieve peace and stability.

Burundi’s First Vice President, Gaston Sindimwo, assured the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, that Burundi troops will continue serving under AMISOM command along with other troop contributing countries.

Burundi Vice President Visits Mogadishu
Burundi’s First Vice President, Gaston Sindimwo with Ambassador Francisco Madeira

“The First Vice President told me that they are determined to be with Somalia and to fight side by side with them come what may,” Ambassador Francisco Madeira said in an interview shortly after the meeting Burundi’s First Vice President.

The meeting focused on Burundi’s participation and AMISOM’s agenda in helping secure a peaceful and stable Somalia.

“We discussed the situation of the Burundi contingent here, their operations, the need for them to obtain more equipment and the position of the Burundi Government with regard to the future of its contingent,” Ambassador Francisco Madeira said.

Present at the meeting was Burundi’s Ambassador to Somalia Brig. Gen. Joseph Nkurunziza; Chief of the Military in the Office of the President, Brig. Gen. Ildephonse Habarugira and the Counselor in charge of Security and Defence in the office of the First Vice President, Madam Francoise Niyonzima.

Burundi also pledged to provide more equipment to its troops serving on the Mission and expressed willingness to make the necessary sacrifices to ensure AMISOM succeeds.

Prior to the meeting with the SRCC, the visiting Vice President met with the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud; Acting Prime Minister Abdulahi Ahmed Jama and representatives of Somalia Chamber of Commerce.

AMISOM has more than 20,000 troops with Burundi having the second largest with approximately 5,432 troops, after Uganda which has 6,223 troops. On the other hand, Ethiopia has 4,395 troops, Kenya 3,664 while Djibouti has about 960. Burundi was second to deploy troops into Somalia, with its first soldiers arriving in Mogadishu in December 2007 after Uganda.

Source: AMISOM