Somalia: President arrives in Burundi for working visit

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo left Mogadishu Monday for a working visit to Burundi, one of AMISOM’s troop-contributing countries, Garowe Online reports.

In a statement, the presidency said Farmajo who is leading a high-level entourage arrived in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, in response to an invitation made by his counterpart President Pierre Nkurunziza.

The office of the president said two leaders discussed further boost and development of the bilateral relations between Somalia and Burundi, as well as the enhancement of the cooperation in the security.

"Burundi is one of the countries which sacrificed efforts for the cause of the peace and stability in Somalia and its troops are part of the AMISOM peacekeepers," read the statement seen by Garowe Online.

Farmajo's trip which becomes the first since he came into the office early 2017 comes as Burundi is protesting the withdrawal of a further 1,000 troops in Hirshabelle State, serving under Sector 5.

The Burundi contingent is the second largest within the African Union [AU] mission in Somalia [AMISOM] with about 5,000 troops after Uganda, a bulk contributor.

The Burundian troops in Somalia remain a big source of foreign currency for the country with the government receiving $18 million from the AU quarterly, as compensation for the soldiers.

Each AU soldier in the Horn of African country receives a monthly salary of $1,028. $200 is deducted by the soldiers’ respective governments to meet administrative costs.

GAROWE ONLINE