Stakeholders in Somalia’s peacekeeping mission meet in Burundi

BUJUMBURA, (Keydmedia) -- Stakeholders in Somalia's peacekeeping mission on Monday began a four-day conference in the Burundian capital Bujumbura on strengthening security in the war- torn state of the Horn of Africa.
News Keydmedia Online

Participants to the conference include Augustine Mahiga, special representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General, and Bubakar Diallo, representative of the African Union (AU) in Somalia.

Countries contributing troops in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) including Burundi and Uganda and delegates from Somalia are also attending the conference to look at ways of strengthening security.

Officially opening the conference, Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza reiterated his commitment to keep and send more Burundian troops serving in the AMISOM, provided that conditions for deployment are met.

"We reassert our commitment to remain on the side of Somalis by keeping and increasing our troops there, provided that conditions for the deployment are met," President Nkurunziza told participants.

He said Burundi and the whole AU states are concerned by insecurity prevailing in Somalia.

President Nkurunziza said insecurity in the war-torn country is being exported to other countries like the recent attacks on the Ugandan capital Kampala claimed by al-Shabab, adding that it is a worldwide security threat.

"For this reason, I am calling upon the International Community not to consider the Somali issue as a problem of Somalis only, because it is going to ignite world terrorism from the Horn of Africa," he said.

On his part, the special representative of the United Nations (UN) secretary general in Somalia said the UN will continue to provide leadership and to coordinate efforts of the international community in Somalia.

"The United Nations, as a partner with the African Union, will continue to provide leadership and coordinate the efforts of the International Community in Somalia," Mahiga said in his statement.

He said his office in Mogadishu has set out a strategy that should guide the efforts of the international community and support to the leadership of Somalia

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