The African Union has extended the presence of Burundian troops in Somalia for another six months, as part of the new AUSSOM mission.
This comes after Burundian troops were originally scheduled to leave the country by June 30, 2025.
The decision came after a meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council that noted the urgent need to fill the “gaps” in AUSSOM, given the delays in the deployment of troops from other countries joining the mission, notably Egypt.
Burundian troops will remain temporarily to strengthen the fight against Al-Shabaab, while also providing support for state-building and security in Somalia.
It is hoped that during the six-month extension, all other countries contributing troops to AUSSOM will fully complete their preparations.
This decision highlights the challenges that remain in the transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM, with financial and military planning issues remaining challenges.
