Uganda replacing 'tired' troops
2007-12-16 21:09
Kampala - Uganda is sending new troops to replace its 1 800-member peacekeeping force in Somalia, saying the soldiers are tired after nine months in one of the world's most violent cities, officials said on Sunday.
About 1 800 Ugandan peacekeepers are in Somalia, officially as the vanguard of a larger African Union peacekeeping force, although no other country has sent reinforcements so far.
Somalia is struggling to quash an Islamic insurgency that has killed thousands of civilians this year.
"We are replacing all the troops in Somalia," said Major Felix Kulayigye, spokesperson for the Ugandan army. "They have been there since early this year and they are now tired.
"They need to come home and meet members of their families."
Kulayigye said the replacements would arrive "anytime from today (Sunday)", when secure transport becomes available.
The African Union's new representative for Somalia offered some hope on Friday, saying he expects more peacekeepers from Nigeria and Burundi to arrive in the capital starting this month.
But earlier promises that reinforcements would soon arrive have not been fulfilled.
Ethiopia, which with tacit US approval sent soldiers to Somalia last year to wipe out the Islamic militants, is not part of the peacekeeping force and is hoping to withdraw.
The current government was formed in 2004 with the support of the UN, but has struggled to assert any real control.
- SAPA