A look back at Burundi’s role in the Somali peacekeeping mission

Unless a last-minute solution is found, Burundi will no longer be part of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (Aussom). The newly adopted peace support mission in Somalia was endorsed by the UN security council through Resolution 2767 (2024) and is set to take effect on 1 January 2025. From all appearances, Burundi is being forced out—for reasons I am unaware. This development warrants reflection, as it marks the end of a 17-year journey in Somalia.

In a multilateral setting such as that of peace support operations, consensus is the golden rule—especially in the case of a long-term actor, contributor, and partner like Burundi. I believe Burundi graduates magna cum laude, even if, despite its admirable and commendable service, its contribution in Somalia has been underrated and undervalued—to say the least.

And yet, Somalis and Burundians share much in common.

Growing up in Bujumbura in the 1970s and 1980s, Somalians were well-known in our neighbourhoods. They were the petrol truck drivers. Whether they were Kenyan Somalis or Somali nationals, I will never know. What I do remember is that without their hard work, driving a car in Bujumbura in those days would have been nearly impossible.

Incidentally—and this is no mere coincidence—our first president, General Micombero, whose brutal regime ended on 1 November 1976, died in exile in Mogadishu on 16 July 1983 while pursuing his studies at the Somali National University. He had found solace in Siad Barre’s Somalia. But that is a story for another day.

Communication regarding Burundi’s exit sent shockwaves around the world. It rubbed salt into a fresh wound. Suffice it to say that, if the issue is bilateral, Somalia and Burundi can resolve any differences, as they have demonstrated in the past.

I witnessed the infancy of Amisom and followed its evolution in various capacities as chef de cabinet at Burundi’s foreign ministry, as ambassador and permanent representative to the African Union, and as minister in charge of foreign affairs. Discussions at the AU, the UN, with bilateral partners, and with the host country proved beyond doubt that Amisom was a tried and tested vehicle for stability in Somalia.

The partnerships that ensured sustainable funding for Amisom, Atmis, and now Aussom deserve recognition. The journey would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of the EU, the US, and others, as well as the cooperation of the African Union, regional economic communities such as Igad, and more.

At the end of the day, it is all about the stability of Somalia and that of the region.

Second to deploy (after Uganda), Burundian troops played a pivotal role in the fight against terrorism and the stabilisation of Somalia. Regional peace efforts and military interventions had failed to restore normalcy to Somalia. Amidst numerous difficulties, and after several years, the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), established by the AU Peace and Security Council at its 69th meeting on 19 January 2007 and authorised by the UN security council on 21 February 2007 (Resolution 1744) to support the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs), became the most effective remedy for Somalia’s challenges.

Yes, issues remained. Yes, domestic politics and regional geopolitical dynamics complicated the mission. Militants found space to operate and grow in the absence of a fully developed national army. Al-Shabaab seized territories, recruited fighters, indoctrinated followers, expanded internationally, and furthered radicalisation. Far removed from the political discussions in air-conditioned offices in various capitals, the mission in Somalia was anything but a walk in the park.

Burundian deployment began with a perilous landing. In December 2007, Burundian soldiers were met with heavy shelling. Amidst bombings and a decidedly hostile “karibu,” they persisted in their mission to dislodge al-Shabaab militants from several strategic areas that the group controlled and from where they had expelled the government.

Indeed, only sacrifice and decisive action enabled Burundian troops to secure the ministry of defence headquarters. Having such a highly strategic and symbolic institution in the hands of militants was a stark reminder of state collapse. Burundian troops also overpowered the terrorists and captured the milk and cigarette factories, Bakara Market, Sector 5, military barracks, and many other areas. These locations had been strongholds of jihadists for several years. Burundi’s significant contribution must be recognised because it was consequential and will remain immortalised in the best pages of the Amisom chronicles for a very long time.

Every time I step into Nyerere House in Addis Ababa, I am reminded of the immense sacrifice made by Burundi and other Troop-Contributing Countries (TCCs). We are talking about hundreds of our soldiers who perished in Somalia in the quest for peace. The entrance wall of Nyerere House, which hosts the political affairs, peace, and security departments of the African Union commission, is covered with hundreds of names of those who went to Somalia under their national banners but did not have the grace to see their countries again—at least as of 2016, when the German-funded building was inaugurated.

Throughout those years, not a single one passed without many Burundians paying the ultimate sacrifice. In Burundi, the Mpanda cemetery, a few kilometres from Melchior Ndadaye International Airport, also bears witness to the pain endured by families and the nation. A small section is dedicated to those heroes who carried the national flag with honour until their final breath.

So many of the survivors, both serving and retired, bear the scars of the war against al-Shabaab. I salute the soldiers.

That alone warrants a well-deserved homage to the men and women who gave their all to help Somalia—a once viable country in the Horn of Africa—stand on its feet again and rejoin the comity of nations.

As Burundian troops prepare to leave the field soon, I believe it is fitting to salute them and commend their exemplary and gallant service to world peace. These are battle-tested men who know the terrain intimately. They have made Africa and Burundi proud by raising the flags of Burundi and the African Union high. There is no denying this.

No, Burundian troops have not overstayed their welcome. They contributed immensely to Somalia’s stabilisation. Their sacrifices should not be overlooked, given their remarkable contribution to world peace and stability. As a friend recently pointed out, Burundian troops stepped in when few others were willing.

One thing I know for certain: they deserve a heroic welcome in Bujumbura—should fate so decree.