MOGADISHU ( Halbeeg News) – Burundian government this week delivered 20 combat vehicles to boost the mission of the Africa Union in Somalia.
The vehicles which will use its contingent in Somalia were meant to use the fight against al-Shabaab fighters in the country.
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, inspected the new equipment in Mogadishu.
Madeira noted that the military hardware would boost AMISOM’s capacity to combat terrorism while ensuring the safety of the soldiers.
“Our soldiers are valiant and brave however they need protection while fighting. So, these armored personnel carriers will protect them as they fight the enemy,” said Ambassador Madeira.
“They are force enablers and force multipliers, no doubt and I thank the Burundi President for providing this essential equipment,” he added.
The AMISOM Burundi contingent commander, Brig Gen Banyankimbona said the carriers would enhance his troops’ movement, protection of civilians, UN and AMISOM personnel. The Burundian troops under AMISOM secure the Middle Shabelle region.
“We are deploying them to support the implementation of AMISOM mandate,” said Brig. Gen. Banyankimbona.
Burundian troops alongside other forces from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, are deployed in Somalia under a UN Security Council mandate to support the Somali security forces to defeat terrorist groups.
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