The Federal Government of Somalia has sent a request to the Government of Burundi to send a technical team to Somalia to deal with the withdrawal of Burundian troops from Somalia.
The purpose of this request is to negotiate the transfer of the responsibilities of the Burundian forces and to establish a proper schedule to carry out this matter.
Somalia’s Defense Minister, Abdiqadir Mohamed Nur, has confirmed that the Burundi National Defense Forces (BNDF) will not be part of the African Union Somalia Stabilization Mission (AUSSOM). The minister added that they are very sad about the lack of consensus on the allocation of the Burundian army for the new mission.
“The Federal Government of Somalia is deeply grateful for the support and solidarity shown by the Republic of Burundi, especially the great efforts made by its national forces for the peace and security of Somalia,” said the Minister of Defense.
The minister also stated that the government of Somalia is taking clear steps to ensure that the responsibilities of the Burundian army are smoothly transferred to the armed forces of Somalia.
He reiterated that the government of Somalia respects Burundi’s decision and is committed to continuing cooperation between the two based on trust and solidarity.
