Seven Burundian peacekeepers serving with the African Union have been killed in an ambush in Somalia by al-Shabab.
The BBC Africa reported that a news site allied with the militants claimed that Al-Shabab carried out a mortar and landmine attack on the troops.
The peacekeepers were travelling on road on Sunday when they were ambushed and killed.
Meanwhile the African Union Mission in Somalia has not commented on this latest report, however it has announced that “a new battle group of the Burundi National Defence Force (BNDF) arrived in Somalia today, commencing a one year tour of duty under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).”
The statement on the Mission’s website said “The 45th battalion of the BDNF, led by Lt. Col. Philbert Hatungimana, landed in Mogadishu on Sunday to replace battalion 39, which is rotating out after completing its tour of duty, during which it helped the Mission achieve its mandate of restoring peace and stabilizing Somalia.”
Lt. Col. Hatungimana is quoted as saying “My expectation in this mission is to help restore peace and stability in Somalia and to help the people of Somalia regain peace,” he explained.
Burundian troops are in Somalia as part of an African Union force fighting the al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia.
Source: Africafeeds.com
