Mogadishu (Sunatimes) A farewell party for a battalion of outgoing African Union peacekeepers, Amisom, was on Sunday held in the former Somali National University in the capital, Mogadishu.

The soldiers from Burundians serving the AU mission in Somalia are set to go back home after several years in the war-torn Hon of African country. They will be replaced by fresh officers from the same country.

The outgoing officers were given certificates of honour for their well-done job in Mogadishu. They were praised for the commitment in defeating Al-Shabaab rebel group.

Somali government officials, AU’s deputy envoy to Somalia, Wafula Wamunyiyi, and the AU force commander, Fred Mugisha, attended the send off ceremony for the AU officers departing the country.

AU’s deputy envoy to Somalia, Wafula Wamunyiyi, thanked the officers for showing tolerance as they battled Al-Shabaab militant group in Mogadishu.

The AU has strong 9,000 peacekeeping forces from Burundi and Uganda in the Somali capital Mogadishu, where they have been battling insurgents trying to topple the Somali government.

By Fadumo Farah