Somalia: Burundi Troops in December

[Som@li]

The Monitor (Kampala)

 

29 November 2007

Posted to the web 28 November 2007

 

Grace Matsiko

Kampala

 

BURUNDI peace keepers are deploying in Somalia in two weeks time to bolster the pacification efforts by the Ugandan contingent, the UPDF Chief of Training and Operations, Brig. Silver Kayemba has said.

 

"In a fortnight's time, Burundi's peace keepers will be deploying in Somalia," Brig. Kayemba said at the award of French language diplomas to 24 UPDF officers yesterday.

 

The ceremony took place at Mr Rene Forceville, the French ambassador's Residence in Kampala. For six years several UPDF officers have been attending French classes organised for them every year by the French Embassy.

 

Within the sphere of bilateral co-operation, Ugandan officers are regularly sponsored and sent to international military schools for peace keeping such as Koulikoro (Mali) and Thies (Senegal), a statement from the embassy said. It added other officers attend courses for specialised army officers in Paris, Montpellier, Strasbourg, and Montlouis (France).

 

Brig. Kayemba said some of yesterday's graduands in French may be deployed to help the UPDF interact with the Burundi contingents. Burundi, a French speaking country has promised to provide over 1700 troops but they have been delayed for logistical purposes.

 

French Defence attaché, Lt. Col. Pascal Bayle, said UPDF officers need to study French because the eastern neighbours are French speakers and the forces will be more involved in multinational operations.

 

Having been in Mauritius, which is a bilingual country, it was a "real opportunity" especially in Africa to master French and English.

 

Ambassador Forceville said it was an opportunity for troops especially in Africa in the curriculum of cadet officers.

 

A training session of French lessons is currently going on at Gaddaffi Barracks in Jinja for the UPDF officers. The lectures are given by a French teacher who will be in Uganda for nine months.

 

The levels taught range from the 1st level to the third level (B1 - becoming an independent user) which enables the officer to attend and interact in a French speaking military course.

 

The diplomas delivered are official qualifications awarded by the French Ministry of Education.

[Som@li]

14/12/2007 14:29 MOGADISHU, Dec 14 (AFP)

 

Burundian forces to deploy in Somalia this month: AU

 

Burundi will send a first battalion of troops to Somalia this month to bolster African Union peacekeepers trying to stabilise the war-wracked Horn of Africa nation, an AU official said Friday.

 

The forces will join some 1,600 Ugandan soldiers based in the volatile capital Mogadishu since March to quell Islamist insurgents.

 

"The Burundian first battalion is prepared and very shortly they will arrive. We are expecting (them) this month," said Nicolas Bwakira, the African Union special envoy to Somalia.

 

Bwakira told reporters that west African military powerhouse Nigeria will also deploy forces in "the coming two or three months."

 

The deployment of Burundian troops, initially set for July, has been delayed due to a lack of equipment and funds. The tiny central African nation plans to send a total of 1,700 soldiers.

 

The pan-African bloc plans to eventually send an 8,000-strong contingent to Somalia to help it stabilise after 16 years of bloodshed.

 

Some 600,000 civilians have been displaced and thousands others killed this year in relentless violence that intensified with the January ouster of an Islamist movement.

 

Bwakira said the bloc has urged Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein to open talks with all groups, including Islamist opposition members to stop the turmoil.

 

"I believe that Somalia needs in the end of the day power-sharing and economy-sharing because peace could be achieved if there is a political space and the prime minster should make his cabinet all inclusive."