[28/January/2010]

KAMPALA, Jan. 28 (Saba) -- Uganda and Burundi are considering to deploy two more battalions in the war-torn Somalia, bringing the number of peacekeepers to over 5,000, a Ugandan top army official said here on Thursday, according to Xinhua.

"We and our friends in Burundi are considering extra deployment in Somalia. We are only waiting for the final decisions to be taken lately," said Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, Uganda's Chief of Defense Forces at media briefing.

"The situation in Somalia is a difficult and a tough one. There is need for extra deployment of troops. We have a challenge from Al Shabaab," he said, adding that, "We shall not leave until we achieve our mission."

Al Shabaab militants have been fighting the Somali transitional government in the country.

Gen. Aronda and Chrispus Kiyonga, Uganda's minister for defense appealed to other African countries to contribute troops to help pacify the lawless country.

"We appeal to other African countries to deploy in the country. I hope the African Heads of State will resolve this in their upcoming AU (African Union) summit," said Aronda.

"African states must put troops together to help our brothers in Somalia," said Kiyonga.

Uganda and Burundi are the only countries which have deployed some 4,300 troops in the volatile country, which according to experts, now needs up to 27,000 troops instead of the previously required 8,000.

The troops are deployed under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Saba