Somalia: Burundi opposition urges troop pullout of Somalia

Mogadishu 1March 2009 Waagacusub Media

It is the bloodiest attack launched against African Union peacekeepers. Eleven Burundian soldiers members of the AMISOM [] in Somalia were killed and 15 others were seriously injured following an attack on their barracks in Mogadishu. The attack was carried by suicide Islamist insurgents attackers. Burundi is in shock.

Following the attack on the Burundian contingent in Somalia, in Bujumbura, the army is trying to make a good impression. Its spokesman, Col Adolphe Manirakiza, explained that by sending the [Burundian] soldiers to the AMISOM, the army was aware that such attacks were likely to happen. On the contrary, he said, this does not discourage us ensuring that Burundian reinforcements will soon be sent to Mogadishu as scheduled.

However, reactions are stronger on the streets. In Gitega, in the central part of the country, people who were interviewed expressed shock by the savagery of the attack, the bloodiest against the African mission since its deployment in 2007, although they admitted that such blood bath.

The chairman of Burundi's main opposition party, FRODEBU [Front for Democracy in Burundi], even went as far as saying that our soldiers in Somalia do not have the means to face Islamist insurgents despite pledges from the international community. They should return home, says Leonce Ngendakumana.

Sunni Said Saleh

sirsunni@gmail.com

english@waagacusub.com

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