AU condemns attack on Burundi soldiers in Somalia

FILE PHOTO: African Union (AMISOM) soldiers from Burundi stand to attention in Mogadishu. (Photo credit should read MOHAMED ABDIWAHAB/AFP/Getty Images)

The African Union on Monday strongly condemned an attack that targeted soldiers from Burundi within the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Saturday in Hirshabelle region.

A statement from the African Union said the attack resulted in a number of casualties but no further details of the attack or any fatalities were given.

An unknown number of Burundian peacekeepers were killed on Saturday when a military convoy was ambushed by Al-Shabaab militants on a road connecting Mogadishu and the city of Jowhar, north of Mogadishu, according to security sources.

“The Chairperson salutes the courage of the Burundian peacekeepers who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty to protect and support our Somali brothers and sisters and their national institutions” AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said.

Mahamat conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and the Burundi government, and wished a quick recovery to the injured peacekeepers.

Mahamat maintained that the AU remained committed to working with the Government of Somalia to further consolidate peace and security in the country.

Last week, Deputy Force Commander Major General Nakibus Lakara visited Jowhar, an area controlled by Burundi troops, to assess progress in operations.

Burundi’s contingent commander Brigadier General Richard Banyakimbona said the soldiers would work on strategies to counter Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Banyakimbona added that they would collaborate with the Somali National Army and engage in civil-military activities to improve relations with communities in regions that have been freed from Al-Shabaab control.

Burundi is one of five countries contributing soldiers under the AMISOM. The other countries are Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

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AMISOM commander visits Burundi troops to assess progress in operations

The Deputy Force Commander in charge of Operations and Plans at the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Maj. Gen. Nakibus Lakara has said AMISOM troops are forging ahead with clearing and securing various main supply routes, mentoring Somali Security Forces, and conducting joint offensives with the Somali National Army as dictated by the Somali Transition Plan.

©AMISOM

On Thursday, Maj. Gen. Lakara was in Jowhar, the headquarters of the AMISOM Sector 5, controlled by Burundi troops, where he assessed progress made in implementing the mission’s Concept of Operations (CONOPs). He also inspected a Forward Operating Base in Gololey and interacted with the troops on issues relating to their welfare.

WHY IT MATTERS: Burundi is among the other troop-contributing countries such as Uganda and others in the UN&AU-led coalition of forces grouped in AMISOM(African Mission in Somalia) to maintain peace ad security and ward off the regular Al Shabaab attacks on Somali civilians.

The CONOPs outlines the activities AMISOM has to implement under the Somali Transition Plan up to 2021 when AMISOM will hand over security responsibilities to the Somali Security Forces.

Among those accompanying Maj Gen. Lakara were Chief Plans Officer, Col. Ben Gah and the Chief Operations Officer Col. John Patrick Otongo.

Maj Gen. Lakara also instructed the commanders to forge ahead implementing the tasks outlined in the Concept of Operations, which include; clearing and securing main supply routes, intensifying mentoring of Somali Security Forces, and conducting joint offensives with the Somali National Army (SNA).

“Opening and securing the Mogadishu-Jowhar-Mahaday-Tayagley main supply route is a priority, and I am happy to note that you have been able to persist in this,” Gen. Lakara stated.

Burundi is one of the five countries contributing troops under AMISOM. Other troop-contributing countries are Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.

Maj. Gen. Lakara also urged the Burundian troops to conduct offensive operations, and counter Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which target AMISOM convoys and civilians along the main supply routes.

“To deal with Al-Shabaab, you must pursue them,” Gen. Lakara noted, before adding, “You must adopt measures to end the use of IEDs along the main supply routes.”

Earlier, Burundi’s contingent commander, Brig. Gen. Richard Banyakimbona, said his troops would work on strategies to counter IEDs and, together with the Somali National Army, engage in civil-military activities to enhance relations with communities in liberated areas.

Brig. Gen. Banyakimbona urged his troops to be steadfast, saying, “We will achieve a lot given that since we first deployed on the mission, we have scored victories against the extremists.”

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