Mozambican troops arrive in Bujumbura

The first 20 of 228 Mozambican troops due to undertake peacekeeping duties in Burundi arrived in the capital, Bujumbura, on Wednesday, the head of the African Union (AU) Mission in Burundi, Mamadou Bah, told IRIN. He said the rest of the troops were expected on Saturday. Mozambique's Defence Ministry announced on Tuesday that the country would spend at least US $14 million to sustain the contingent for the next 12 months. Some of the money would come from the Mozambican state budget and the rest from donor countries such as the Britain, France and the United States, the ministry said. An advance team of 12 staff officers had arrived earlier in Bujumbura to prepare for the Mozambican contingent's deployment. Upon completion of deployment by contributing countries, the AU mission would comprise 3,128 peacekeepers. Already, 1,600 South Africans have been in the country since May and 845 Ethiopians arrived two weeks ago. Ethiopia has pledged 1,300 troops. The peacekeepers are in Burundi to help in the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of rebel troops and to monitor the transition to democracy in the war-torn country.