Somali Federal Gov’t and the AFrican Union (AU), settled a disagreement over the number of troops allocated for countries contributing troops in the new African Union Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The row broke out between the AU and Somalia over the number of troops expected from Ethiopia and Burundi. Senior officer of the African Union (AU) who requested anonymity told VOA that Burundian troops serving in the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) will leave the country after being stationed in Somalia since 2007.
Somalia and Burundi failed to settle a row pertaining to the number of Burundian troops that it will contribute to AUSSOM. As confirmed by Somalia and AU officials, troops serving in the new African Union Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) will be 11, 900 including military personnel, police and other civilian staffers. It is confirmed that Uganda is allotted to have 4500 troops, Ethiopia will contribute 2500, Djibouti will also contribute 1520, Kenya is expected to have 1410 troops, while Egypt will bring 1091 troops to serve in the new African Union Mission in Somalia for the first time.
A diplomat who asked anonymity said that the discussion of Burundian troops to serve in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) is underway. The diplomat said that the exit of Burundian troops from Somalia will have major political and economical repercussions to the African Union. The issue of investing in (AUSSOM) has not yet been discussed. Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Egypt will contribute police force to Somalia and will be based in Mogadishu, Jowhar and Baidoa.
