Burundi Troops Leave Somalia as AUSSOM Faces Dispute Over Force Size

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Troops attached to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) from the Burundian Defence Forces are set to leave the Horn of Africa nation after a disagreement between Mogadishu and Bujumbura over the total number of soldiers to be involved.

Under the new AUSSOM scheme, all troops contributing nations were set to significantly reduce their numerical strength as the Somali National Army (SNA) prepares to take over security responsibilities in the coming months, with the foreign troops set to leave shortly.

However, reports indicate that the federal government of Somalia and Burundi have failed to agree on the correct number of troops to be engaged in the new mission. Burundi wanted the figure to be doubled from slightly over 1000 to at least 2010 soldiers.

Egyptian troops will be deployed in Somalia as part of the AUSSOM mission, ending the speculation about their anticipated engagement in the new mission which was operationalized in January 2025, after the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) was folded.

Going forward, Uganda shall have 4500 soldiers in Somalia, Kenya 1410, Ethiopia 2500, Djibouti 1520, and Egypt 109. The mission is funded by the African Union with support from the European Union and the United Nations.

Last week Ethiopia and Somalia “agreed on the force disposition of ENDF” within the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), following efforts to ease diplomatic tensions, according to a joint communiqué issued after an Ethiopian delegation led by Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Chief of Ethiopia’s National Defense Force, visited Mogadishu on February 22.

The discussions focused on “regional security” and reaffirmed commitments to “maintaining peace, security, and stability” in the Horn of Africa. Both sides also agreed to develop a “Status of Force Agreement (SOFA)” for Ethiopian forces operating in Somalia as part of ongoing defense cooperation.

This comes as Al-Shabaab intensified attacks in Somalia, with the group targeting at least three fronts in the Hiran region, early Tuesday. Locals report a dawn attack on Aboorey just north of Bulobarde and Ceel Cali Axmed, southeast of Moqokori.

A local source also reported a third attack in Beero Yabaal, northwest of Aboorey. The militants entered El Ali Ahmed but were repulsed in Beero Yabaal, a source told the Voice of America. Al-Shabaab websites are claiming their fighters “overrun” Aboorey, a claim not yet independently verified.

These attacks just come five days after the group carried out similar multi-front attacks in several villages in the neighbouring Middle Shabelle region. The Somali government reported killing over 130 militants in Middle Shabelle attacks last week, a figure that has not been independently verified, VOA adds.

GAROWE ONLINE