AU and Somalia agree on AUSSOM troops number

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The African Union (AU) has agreed with Somalia on the exact number of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) service members who will work in the Horn of Africa nation following weeks of delays.

The delay was occasioned by the differences between Somalia and Ethiopia and Burundi's resistance to the number of soldiers allocated to its contingent. Burundi soldiers will be leaving after the two governments failed to agree on the number of soldiers to serve in the new mission.

According to officials, the new mission shall have 11,900 soldiers, police, and technical personnel, who shall serve in Somalia. Under the new arrangement, Uganda gets 2,500 to Ethiopia, 1,520 to Djibouti, 1,410 to Keny, and 1,091 to Egypt, according to the official.

“The departure of Burundi would have significant political and financial repercussions for the AU,” the second diplomat told VOA in anonymity.

“In addition, there is still a major issue of funding for AUSSOM that has not been resolved. Burundi sacrificed a lot, and they deserve to have their concerns addressed,” he added.

Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Egypt shall deploy police officers to be based in Mogadishu, Jowhar, and Baidoa. The deployment of service members to the mission was triggered by Somalia’s differences with Ethiopia over the latter's deal with the Somaliland region.

The tensions have been cured after Turkey successfully mediated the standoff, leading to Somalia’s renewal of diplomatic relations with Ethiopia. Last week, Ethiopia National Defense Forces boss Field Marshal Birhanu Jula visited Mogadishu where the differences were ironed.

Somalia’s National News Agency, or SONNA, said the talks focused on counterterrorism, regional stability, and the role of Ethiopian forces in AUSSOM.

“The chiefs underscored the role of ENDF (Ethiopian National Defense Force) in African Union peace support operations and agreed on the Force disposition of ENDF in the African Union Support and Stabilization mission in Somalia (AUSSOM),” said a communique published by SONNA.

Ethiopian troops are credited for dislodging Al-Shabaab from Mogadishu and have since stabilized parts of Southwest and Gedo regions in Somalia. In the long run, the Somali National Army is expected to take over security responsibilities in the country.

GARWE ONLINE