APA-Bujumbura (Burundi) The president of the Transition Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, arrived Tuesday morning in Bujumbura for a three-day official visit to Burundi.
In an interview with the press, Sheikh Sharif stated that the purpose of his visit was to strengthen relations between Somalia and Burundi.
Eleven troops of the Burundian contingent of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) were killed and fifteen wounded in February. They were attacked by Islamist insurgents of the Somali al Shabaab group.
The death of these soldiers had created a controversy in Burundi over the presence of these soldiers in Somalia, where the situation is returning to normalcy after two decades of conflict.
The Burundian leader Pierre Nkurunziza as well as other dignitaries of the country welcomed his Somali counterpart upon arrival.
Sheikh Ahmed Sheriff also hailed Burundi for its work in pursuit of peace in his country.
Also, he presented his condolences to the government and people of Burundi following the Monday plane crash that killed three officers of the Burundian army who were going to Somalia.
On his part, President Nkurunziza used the opportunity to reassert the determination of Burundi to help bring peace to Somalia.
"Burundi has a duty to help Somalia regain peace because others helped it do so," he said.
The two heads were scheduled to hold talks on Tuesday afternoon.
During his visit, Sheik Sharif will go to the military hospital in Bujumbura, the Higher Military Institute, the military school of trade and the Bubanza technical trades school, about 30km from the capital.
The Somali head of state leaves for home on Thursday.
1 comment:
At least Somalia has acknowledged what we are doing in his country
Post a Comment