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The lucrative multi-billion dollar business that is #AMISOM, and why it is not leaving #Somalia any time soon, a thread...
Burundi's participation in AMISOM is purely financial in nature. Soldiers receive a salary of $1028 per soldier per month. This resulted in AMISOM vets creating an entire neighbourhood dubbed 'AMISOM District'! Even the President purchased a new presidential jet with AMISOM funds
Burundi soldiers say "death in #Somalia is worth more than in Burundi". This becomes apparent when you learn that families of Burundi soldiers who die in Somalia receive 50,000 USD from the AU. One wonders, how much do families of #Somalia soldiers receive for their dead sons?
The monthly salary of a soldier from Burundi stationed in #Somalia is $1028 ($800 after government deductions). The normal salary of these soldiers when they are back home in Burundi is $40 per month. Getting sent to #Somalia equals a pay increase of 2470%.
Troop-contributing countries charge rental fees for all equipments they use, they get reimbursed for bullets they use, in addition to financial compensation they receive per soldier sent. Equipment rental alone could net them up to $5000 per month per piece of equipment.
#Djibouti's military involvement with #AMISOM was motivated almost entirely by gaining new funds, equipment, infrastructure and training.
When #Djibouti's soldiers first arrived in Mogadishu, the commander refused to deploy outside the airport to their designated area of operations. Demanded a new barracks be built for them, once their demands were refused, soldiers remained in airport before getting shipped home.
Just getting 40 #Djibouti soldiers to their designated area of operation in #Somalia cost UNSOA over $3 million.
Before committing to being part of #AMISOM, #Djibouti demanded equipment from the US valued at $58 million. This should be judged in part against the fact that Djibouti's entire defence spending in 2010 was $12 million.
