Tuesday December 31, 2024
FILE - Burundian troops saluting during a ceremonial event
Mogadishu (HOL) — Burundi has accused Somalia of betrayal and ingratitude after being excluded from the list of countries permitted to contribute troops to the new African Union mission for peace restoration in Somalia, known as AUSSOM. The decision comes as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) concludes its mandate at the end of December.
A senior Burundian official, speaking to Ugandan media, said Somalia had acted deceitfully in limiting Burundi's participation.
"We have witnessed betrayal and ingratitude from Somalia despite the immense sacrifices we made in the fight against al-Shabaab," the official said. The official added that Somalia's decision to request fewer troops was viewed as a threat to the operational effectiveness of Burundi's forces.
Burundi had requested to deploy 2,000 troops under AUSSOM but was allocated only 1,041 by Somalia, leading to its withdrawal from the mission. A letter from Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur on December 26 confirmed the "non-participation" of the Burundi National Defense Forces (BNDF), citing a lack of consensus on troop numbers.
Burundi has been a prominent player in Somalia's stabilization efforts since 2007, deploying thousands of troops under AMISOM and later ATMIS. At its peak, Burundi contributed 5,432 soldiers, making it the second-largest troop contributor to the mission. Burundian forces played a pivotal role in liberating key areas of Mogadishu, including the Ministry of Defense headquarters, from al-Shabaab.
Despite these achievements, relations between the two countries have soured over what Burundian diplomats have described as Somalia's "disrespect" in troop allocation discussions. Speaking to VOA, another Burundian diplomat criticized Somalia's approach, saying, "Ungrateful cannot capture enough the sentiments of Burundians towards Somalis. Well done! We deserve an apology."
Somalia has framed the transition to AUSSOM as a step toward greater sovereignty. The new mission will begin in January 2025 and will have a leaner structure, deploying 12,626 personnel, including 1,040 police officers. Somalia has also secured bilateral agreements to deploy 11,000 troops, aiming to fill potential security gaps left by the drawdown of international forces.
Somalia's Deputy UN Envoy Mohamed Yusuf emphasized the importance of these agreements, stating they are essential for sustaining progress against al-Shabaab. Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi also expressed gratitude for Burundi's contributions, describing their legacy as "etched in Somalia's history."
The withdrawal of Burundi from AUSSOM comes amid broader regional tensions. Ethiopia's participation in the mission remains uncertain due to territorial disputes and allegations of arms smuggling. Somali officials have suggested that Ethiopian troops might be excluded from AUSSOM, with other countries such as Egypt potentially stepping in to fill their roles.