In the light of the fears of the military vacuum filled with the Al -Shabab terrorist movement in Somalia, the decision of the African Union to extend the presence of the Burundian forces in the mission of the African Union to maintain stability in Somalia (Osum) for an additional 6 -month period.
This extension is considered by an expert in Somali affairs, he talked with Aucarc al -Avsat, which is temporary for the fight against the movement of the “youth”, which contradicts him and Mogadisho, emphasizing that this military vacuum, which fills Burundi with its beginning, is waiting for Egyptian support, which will have an impact on the final mission.
Burundi began his military participation in Somalia, December 2007 as part of the mission of the African Union in Somalia. He helped restore the main strategic objects in Mogadisho, including the complex of the Ministry of Defense, in ground -based combat operations, and announced in late 2024 plans to remove his forces from the country from a dispute with Mogadishu about the number of soldiers expected in the mission, according to the French press, agency at that time.
And behind the mission of the African Confederation of Attis, whose mandate ended at the end of 2024, the mission of the African Union to support stability in Somalia, known as the OAZUM, officially began its activities in early January (January) after the UN Security Council approved the decision on its Sorama in December 2024 Somali 15 years ago.
The Council for Peace and Security of the African Union announced the extension of the Burundian military presence in Somalia for 6 months, which led to a delay in the full conclusion, which was planned at June 30, 2025, after a high level, which appreciated the delay with the beginning of the new mission of stability, which replaced the African transitional mission in Somali AKM.
These delays are largely related to the “material -technical problems and readiness of readiness for countries that contribute to forces, especially Egypt, which are expected to join the new mission of the African Union to support stability in Somalia (AUSSOM), according to the new Somali website on Saturday.
As a result, the Burundi forces in Somalia will remain with the aim of “supporting anti -cancer operations against (Al -SSTHABAB) and strengthening the efforts of the Somali Government during the transitional period”, while the expansion will give a period for 6 months, that the shareholders will be additional time to complete the preparation of their forces in the framework of the structure of the new African mission, in accordance with themselves, in accordance with the Sams, in accordance Somaal mission.
The African Council for Peace and Security confirmed, according to the press release, on Friday, “the need for a commission of the African Union, in coordination with the organization of the United Nations, resumed the process of deploying the Egyptian forces and the return of the Burundian forces to its homeland and urges in the same context to develop ways to support the presence of the Burundian forces.”
Somali political analyst, Abdel -Dzham Berry, believes that “the African Union decided to extend the survival of Burundi for 6 months to prevent expansion (al -Shabab) and fill a potential military void with the departure that they were not used from this movement.” He indicated that “Burundi could not alone connect the military vacuum, but he temporarily contributes to limited efficiency and expects the mission with the support of Egypt. Her military mission. “
The new mission power consists of more than 11 thousand soldiers, with the expected distribution of soldiers from Egypt and other places, in addition to the previous presence of forces such as Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibuti, against the backdrop of their work in accordance with the previous statements of the African official.
The head of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Yussef, emphasized at the meeting of the mission in Uganda in April last year, the need to “provide the necessary financing of the mission of the African Union in Somalia”, explaining that “there are still contraindications to implement the resolution of the Security Council in relation to the Somali support mission, and this issue will require collective efforts to mobilize financial resources in the amount of 190 million dollars in 2025.
Recent attacks in the main cities caused concern about the return of the movement, especially with the terrorist movement of Al -Shabab, aimed at the procession of President Hassan Sheikh Mahmud in the capital, Mogadisho, in March and its constant confrontation with the Somalian army since the beginning of the year.
For more than 15 years, the Movement Movement, associated with the Al -Caida organization, began an armed uprising against the Somali federal government, supported by the international community, in order to implement Islamic law in a country, which is considered one of the poorest countries in the world.
Berry claims that “the new mission needs close cooperation with Somali forces, intelligence support and public projects to ensure success,” noting that “the lack of funding threatens the effectiveness of the mission and prevents extensive activity.”
“But limited results can be achieved if the main attention is paid to strategic areas and good coordination between the forces of the mission, as well as at the end of the Egyptian mission, in addition to the fact that the solution consists in a comprehensive strategy that combines security and development and withstand extremist thought.”
