Burundi has decided not to send its troops to the new African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). This decision follows a disagreement with Somalia about how many soldiers Burundi could contribute.

The issue arose because Somalia offered Burundi only 1,041 troops for the mission, but Burundi wanted at least 2,000. Feeling this offer was unfair, Burundi chose to withdraw. Burundi's Ambassador to the African Union, Willy Nyamitwe, informed Djibouti's AU Peace and Security Council Chair, Mahamoud Eybe, about this decision.

AUSSOM is set to replace the current African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in January 2025. Burundi has been a major part of peacekeeping efforts in Somalia since 2007, helping fight insurgents and stabilize areas. However, the lack of agreement with Somalia means Burundi will no longer participate.

Somalia's Defense Minister, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, thanked Burundi for its past contributions and expressed regret that no agreement could be reached. He asked Burundi to send a team to plan a smooth exit and hand over its positions to Somali forces.

Experts believe Burundi’s withdrawal will impact AUSSOM. Burundi has been an important force in Somalia, training local troops and fighting rebels. Security analyst Fred Egesa said that while this creates challenges, it also gives Somali forces a chance to take on more responsibility and grow stronger. He added that other forces, like Uganda’s military, could help manage the situation.

Burundi’s decision may also have been influenced by pressure from its citizens, who are concerned about the loss of many Burundian soldiers in the fight against Al-Shabab. Reports say Burundi also refused to send troops to the Gedo region, where tensions exist between Somalia and Ethiopia.

At the same time, Somalia plans to exclude Ethiopian troops from AUSSOM due to concerns about territorial and political issues.