Rocky start to new AU Somalia mission as Burundi reads ‘disrespect’ in troop count
Djiboutian soldiers serving under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis) convoy during a routine drill in Beletweyne, Somalia on November 23, 2022.
The new African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia has got off to a rocky start, as Burundi, a key troop contributor, said it was considering withdrawing its soldiers due to a dispute over the number it was allocated to contribute to the force, while the presence of archenemies, Egyptian and Ethiopian forces, along with uncertain funding could hinder its effectiveness in combating the militant group Al Shabaab.
Last week, Burundi announced that it would not participate in the latest United Nations Security Council-authorised force, the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (Aussom), whose five-year mandate began on January 1,2025.
