Afrique en ligne
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Thursday’s fighting for control of the strategic district of Daynille, located 10 kilometres northwest of Mogadishu, reportedly left at least 10 people dead and 18 others wounded, according to the latest official report from the Burundi Ministry of National Defence and Veterans Affairs. 'The Somali forces and AMISOM troops have fought valiantly for three days and managed to control the district of Daynille after fierce resistance from the insurgents, who continue to flee in disarray towards the north-west of Mogadishu,' the Burundian government said in a statement.
According to the death toll provided by El Shebaab, over 70 Burundian soldiers were killed in recent fighting around the Somali capital -- a claim denied by the African Union and the High Command of the Burundian army.
Meanwhile, the Burundian government has called on its soldiers involved in the peacekeeping mission in Somalia since 2007, to 'keep up the courage and double their efforts and vigilance'.
It also called the international community to 'provide AMISOM with adequate facilities in terms of hardware to enable it to carry out its mandate effectively'.
Troops from Burundi and Uganda, the only African countries contributing soldiers to Somalia, say they are in control of over 90% of Mogadishu after four years of fighting against El Shebaab.