Thousands of African Union peacekeeping forces have been killed in Somalia and hundreds more have been injured since the troops began their operations in Somalia in early 2007, according to VOA’s AMISOM mission chief.
Mohamed El-Amine Souef, the Special Envoy of the African Union Commission in Somalia, revealed the number of casualties during an interview with VOA.
Souef confirmed the estimated death toll of African Union soldiers at 3,500. He said that the most casualties were suffered by the Burundian and Ugandan forces.
It is the first time that an official of the African Union has spoken openly about the general loss of peacekeeping forces operating in Somalia.
Souef, the former foreign minister of Comoros, said that he would give priority to the families of soldiers killed in Somalia to get compensation for their families.
He said that the troops came to Somalia for a good reason, as the countries that donated the troops feel that they are close to Somalia.
The Somali government also praised the sacrifice of the African Union peacekeeping forces.
Hussein Sheikh Ali, the national security adviser to the president of Somalia, said that the government recognizes the work of the African Union forces.
