Burundi wants AMISOM mandate reviewed

Afrique en ligne
Friday, November 19, 2010

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African Union Mission in Somalia - Burundi is seeking a review of the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to enable troops to better fulfill their role, according to the Burundian Minister of External Relations and International Cooperation Augustin Nsanze.

Nsanze made the request at a 4-day international conference in Bujumbura on peace in Somalia, attended by representatives of the United Nations, the Africa Union and the ruling party in Mogadishu.

He said the the review of the AMISOM mandate would make it possible for the peac ekeeping troops to better defend themselves and hunt down the enemy in the event of attacks.

The minister also urged the international community to support the Somali people and ensure that AMISOM members are treated according to the UN standards, in financial terms.

The monthly salary of a Burundian soldier in Somalia is currently US$700, while that of a UN peacekeeper is US$1,028, the minister said.

The Bujumbura conference called on other countries of the world to join Burundi and Uganda, which are the two troops contributing nations to AMISOM, which is increasingly being attacked by insurgents.

Opening the conference, the Burundian head of State, Pierre Nkurunziza, pledged to maintain and strengthen the three Burundian battalions already in Somalia, 'provided that all the necessary resources are made available'

Source: Afrique en lingne

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