26 December 2007
Bujumbura — Burundi sent its first 94 troops to Somalia on Saturday 22 December 2007. Their mission is to prepare for the arrival of a battalion of Burundian troops to be deployed later.
The last stage of military training for Burundian troops ended in early October. For six weeks Americans marines trained two Burundian battalions that are to be deployed in Somalia. The training mainly focused on combat tactics.
The date for the deployment of the remaining troops has not been set. Other troops will be transported to Somalia as soon as this vanguard military company completes the preparations for the full deployment.
The battalions that will be deployed to the Horn of Africa will be commanded by General Niyoyunguruza.
Burundi is currently participating in three peacekeeping missions in Africa: in the Ivory Coast, Sudan and Somalia.
It appears that the parliament was not consulted before the deployment of these troops to Somalia where various Muslim factions do not welcome any force that is mainly made up of Christians.
Article 250 of the Constitution of the Republic of Burundi provides that the President of the Republic must inform promptly and in a detailed way (a) the reason for the deployment of the national defence force; (b) where the force is to be deployed, and (c) the length of the deployment.
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