STORY: SOMALIA AMISOM BURUNDIAN TROOPS ROTATIONS TRT: 02:46 SOURCE: AU/UN IST RESTRICTIONS: This media asset

t is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is not to be sold on and is restricted for other purposes. All enquiries to news@auunist.org CREDIT REQUIRED: AU/UN IST LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS DATELINE: 30 AUGUST 2013, MOGADISHU, BAIDOA, SOMALIA SHOTLIST: 1. Wide shot, Burundian troops lining up with their bags 2. Med shot, Burundian soldiers chatting as they wait to travel 3. Close up, weighing scale 5. Med shot, soldiers putting their bags on the scale 6. Wide shot, Burundian soldiers carrying their bags 7. Wide shot, UN plane arriving at the Aden Abdulle International Airport 8. Med shot, New AMISOM Burundian soldiers exiting the plane 9. Wide shot, AMSIOM Burundian troops deplaning 10. Wide shot, AMISOM Burundian troops walking away from the aircraft 11. Med shot, AMISOM Burundian troops walking from the aircraft 12. Med shot, New troops being welcome by AMISOM officials 13. Med shot, New AMISOM Burundi troops leaving the airport 14. Wide shot, New Burundian soldier leaving the airport DATELINE: 30 AUGUST 2013, BAIDOA, SOMALIA 15. Wide shot, Burundi Chief of Defence Forces, Major General Prime Niyongabo visiting troops in Baidoa 16. Med shot, Major General Prime Niyongabo chatting with troops 17. SOUNDBITE (English) Major General Prime Niyongabo, Burundi Chief of Defence Forces: There are many changes from the time I was here as the Burundian Contingent Commander if you compare the current situation. There has been a very big improvement in peace and security situation. DATELINE: 30 AUGUST 2013, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA 18. Wide shot, UN aircraft being loaded for take-off 19. Med shot, porters loading the cargo hold

20. Wide shot, AMISOM Burundian troops whove finished their tour of duty walking towards aircraft 21. Med shot, Burundian troops waving goodbye 22. Close up, boots of the soldiers as they walk 23. Wide shot, Burundian troops entering the UN plane 24. Close up, troops entering the aircraft 25. Wide shot, AMISOM Burundi troops inside the aircraft 26. Med shot, AMISOM troops in the plane 27. Wide shot, UN plane taking off STORY: All packed and ready to go, members of the Burundian National Defence Force serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), have ended their tour of duty and are being replaced by a new battalion from Burundi, to serve in the peacekeeping mission. The AU mission is tasked with bringing security and stabilizing the Horn of African Nation that had been at war for over 2 decades. The rotating troops have been in Somalia for the past year serving along side other African troops that make up the peacekeeping force from Uganda, Djibouti, Kenya and Sierra Leone. The troops are mandated to support the Somali National Forces in the fight against the Al Qaeda linked extremist group al Shabaab. Burundian troops first deployed in Somalia in 2007, at the height of street battles, mortar fire and suicide bombings in the capital Mogadishu. They fought along side troops from Uganda and eventually forced the al Shabaab insurgents out of Mogadishu in 2011. Two years on and the Islamist extremists al Shabaab have lost a sting of towns and cities they once controlled in south-central Somalia paving to way for improved security and an internationally recognised Federal government. Welcoming the troops and touring of their bases in Baidoa the capital of the Bay region, the Burundi Chief of Defence Force, Major General Prime Niyongabo reminded the troops of how important a role they are playing to bring place and stability to Somalia and the region. Major General Niyongabo had himself served under AMISOM in Somalia as the Burundian contingent commander, as he is amazed at the progress achieved. There are many changes from the time I was here as the Burundian Contingent Commander if you compare the current situation. Said Major General Niyongabo, There has been a very big improvement in peace and security situation.

The AMISOM Burundian contingent, part of the 17,000 strong African Union Forces has infantry troops stationed in the capital Mogadishu, as well as in Baidoa and Marka. Burundi like Somalia, experienced war within its own boarders for 15 years, but they have been able to rebuild, move past their violent years and today are lending a helping hand to Somalia, with the hope that Somalia too will rise from the ashes of war.