Burundi's VP announces pullout of troops from Somalia

Burundian First Vice-President Gaston Sindimwo Monday evening announced the pullout of Burundian troops serving in the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) over failure by the AU to pay Burundian troops.

"If our (Burundian) troops are not paid while other troops from Uganda or Kenya are regularly paid, how can a serious government accept that?" Sindimwo told a press conference.

"If the African Union has failed to pay Burundian troops serving in the AMISOM, we will withdraw them from Somalia, and we will also withdraw their equipment," he said.

Sindimwo was referring to a letter from the office of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza that recommended the Ministry of External Relations and International Cooperation to get in touch with the AU Commission and inform it about the violation of the memorandum of understanding linking the AU to Burundi.

The east African country's foreign ministry was recommended to inform the AU of an "imminent pullout and immediate return" of Burundian troops and equipment from Somalia.

In his message to the nation at the New Year's Day, Burundian President said that the Burundian government is going to sue the African Union (AU) over unpaid salaries for Burundian troops serving in the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Since 2007, Burundi has sent six battalions, comprising of over 5,000 troops into Somalia to restore security in that country where Al-Shabaab terrorists are active.

Following the outbreak of Burundi's crisis in April 2015 with Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza bidding and winning a controversial third term, some army and police officers were sent to lead peacekeeping missions in Somalia and the Central African Republic, but were refused for their alleged involvement in violent repression during demonstrations against Nkurunziza's third term bid. Endit