Burundi Reportedly Speeds Up Withdrawal of Remaining Troops from Somalia

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Burundi is reportedly accelerating plans to withdraw its remaining troops from Somalia, raising fresh questions about the future of the African Union’s security presence as the country prepares to assume greater responsibility for its own security.

The move was reported by Africa Intelligence, which said the Burundian government was pushing to speed up the departure of its forces before the end of the current mandate of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

The report points to logistical challenges surrounding the withdrawal, particularly Burundi’s reliance on United Nations support to facilitate the movement of its troops and equipment back home.

Burundi has been one of the longest-serving contributors to the African Union’s military presence in Somalia. Its troops joined the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in December 2007, several months after the mission’s initial deployment, and took part in operations against Al-Shabaab and efforts to secure strategic locations.

However, Burundi’s participation in the new AUSSOM mission became uncertain following disagreements with the Somali government over the number of troops it would be allowed to deploy. While Burundi had proposed contributing about 3,000 soldiers, Mogadishu reportedly favoured a much smaller contingent.

The disagreement led Burundi to withdraw its troop contribution pledge, with the African Union subsequently calling for the orderly repatriation of its remaining forces to avoid creating a security vacuum.

AUSSOM replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on January 1, 2025, with a revised force structure involving Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya and Egypt.

The mission’s mandate has been extended through December 31, 2026, amid continuing concerns over funding, troop deployments and the capacity of Somali security forces to take over responsibilities from international forces.

Burundi’s reported push to accelerate the withdrawal comes as Somalia faces the challenge of sustaining security gains against Al-Shabaab while managing changes in the composition and deployment of foreign forces.

Africa Intelligence did not provide details of the number of Burundian troops expected to leave, the precise withdrawal timetable or the arrangements for completing their repatriation.