SA soldiers back from Burundi
2006-02-24 15:33
Pretoria - Three hundred South African soldiers are returning from Burundi this week, after completing their protection mission in that country, the defence ministry said on Friday.
Spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi said South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members were deployed in Burundi in October 2001 to protect political leaders returning home ahead of the inauguration of the transitional government.
They were deployed in Burundi as the SA Protection and Support Detachment.
The Burundi peace mission was subsequently taken over by the African Union, whose mandate for the protection force expired this month.
The VIP protectors started arriving back in South Africa on Thursday.
One hundred and thirty arrived on Thursday at the Waterkloof air base and the second group of 85 members arrived on Friday. The last group of 85 is expected on Saturday.
"The return of the South African soldiers could well be regarded as the first step in the conclusion of the Burundi peace process," said Mkhwanazi.
The process began with the deployment of troops who were later joined by their counterparts from Mozambique and Ethiopia.
- SAPA