P 020944Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1239
INFO RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY

UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 000603 
 
 
LONDON, PARIS, PLEASE PASS TO AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPKO SO AU BY KE NI RW SU UG ET
SUBJECT: BURUNDI MAINTAINS PLEDGE FOR AMISOM THIRD BATTALION 
 
REF: STATE 125135 
 
¶1.  (U) Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Germain 
Niyoyankana assured the Ambassador November 28 that Burundi 
will indeed honor its pledge to provide a third battalion of 
Burundian troops for the African Union Mission to Somalia 
(AMISOM), and that Burundi stands ready to promise further 
battalions if needed.  Niyoyankana said his troops would 
benefit from an additional ACOTA training visit, but they 
stand prepared to depart mid-January without such refresher 
training if necessary.  The MinDef welcomed USG equipment and 
logistical support, acknowledging that donor assistance is 
necessary if Burundi is to continue to participate in AMISOM. 
 Niyoyankana noted it would be useful if an additional 850 
desert uniforms for the pledged third battalion could be 
procured and delivered in mid-January - the same time as 
1,700 desert uniforms destined for the battalions already in 
theatre are scheduled to arrive in Bujumbura. 
 
 
Moller 
 
 
NOTE: MISSING SUBJECT TAGS.