Authorities in Mahadaay settlement in Middle Shabelle province on Wednesday have strongly refuted that the Burundian peace keeping troops have vacated Garasaale settlement which lies between Mahadaay and Jawhar.
This has come out after news was widely circulated on social media reports saying that Burudian troops have withdrawn from their bases in settlements including Garsaale settlement.
Mahadaay district governor, Ahmed Hussein Afrah has strongly repudiated the news saying that the Burundian troops have left their barracks in the settlement.
The governor said that the troops are based on two areas in Mahadaay and are still stationed there.
He said: “I am sure that the Burundian troops are in Mahadaay. They are stationed in two areas and they are there.”
The Commander of ATMIS troops in Garsaale base, Ernest Simbaaniye has not confirmed that the troops have vacated their bases.
The Somali troops are Burundian soldiers established bases in Garsaale in 2012 which lies less than 100 km away from Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital.
ATMIS which is working with the Somali Federal Gov’t on security matters and the protection of public centers are in agreement not to vacate bases unless there is a Somali army that will take over the military base.
This has come out at a time when Burundi is not part of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
ATMIS is currently operational in Somalia until June. Countries that are part of the (AUSSOM) will dispatch troops that will assist Somalia in maintaining security and the eradication of Al-Shabab.
Burundi was part of the two previous missions in Somalia named AMISOM and ATMIS.
Burundi was the second country that sent its troops to Somalia 18 years ago.
