BURUNDI/FILE: Burundi observes national day of mourning for its troops killed in Somalia

Record ID: 452706

  • Title: BURUNDI/FILE: Burundi observes national day of mourning for its troops killed in Somalia
  • Date: 23rd February 2009
  • Summary: SOLDIER SALUTES AS COFFINS ARE CARRIED OUT OF BUILDING MILITARY PERSONNEL CARRYING COFFINS INTO CHURCH WOMAN SEATING IN A CAR, CRYING INTERIOR OF CHURCH PEOPLE SEATED IN CHURCH PRIEST BLESSING COFFINS SOLDIERS WEAPON IN FOREGROUND AND BURUNDIAN FLAG DRAPED ON A COFFIN IN BACKGROUND
  • Embargoed: 10th March 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA5ADE1J4JE1ZGQQS8XE3Z97MP1
  • Story Text: The Burundian government declared Wednesday (February 25) a national day of mourning, after 11 Burundian soldiers died on Sunday (February 21), in an attack by Islamist insurgents in Somalia's capital Mogadishu.
    This is the deadliest attack on the African Union peacekeeping force so far.
    The Burundian flag was flying at half-mast in the capital Bujumbura, as the burial of the soldiers was underway.
    The 11 slain soldiers were part of contingent of 3400 men, which comprises of Ugandan and Burundian troops sent in March 2007.
    Burundi's defence minister, Lieutenant General Germain Niyoyankana maintained that the soldiers died honourably.

    "Their blood was shed while they were on a mission for peace. Our thoughts and love go out to them and their loved ones," said Niyoyankana.
    Somalia has been plagued by conflict for the past 18 years and Islamist insurgents have been fighting the government for over two years. More than 16,000 civilians have been killed since the start of 2007 and a million uprooted from their homes.
    While some insurgents have now pledged to support the new administration led by moderate Islamist President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, the hardline line al Shabaab group, which claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack, has vowed to fight on.
    But Niyoyankana maintains the Burundian government will not be deterred by this and is prepared to send more troops.

    "We are ready to send more troops tomorrow. Those who died, didn't die for nothing. We learnt a lesson from this situation. Before they left , we told them, you have to be careful once you get there, things change all the time like the weather, be careful and look out for danger," said Niyoyankana.
    The African Union wants to beef up its force to 8,000 but has had trouble both raising funds to finance an expanded mission and getting other countries to send more soldiers.
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