Uganda Pledges 1,200 Troops as Burundi Eyes Proposed Gaza Security Force
Uganda has committed approximately 1,200 personnel to a proposed international security force for Gaza, according to Africanews, while neighbouring Burundi is still weighing whether to contribute troops to the 20,000-strong mission.
The discussions took place during talks held in Israel between representatives of the two East African nations and Israeli officials. According to Africanews, Uganda has formally approved its contribution, becoming one of the first African countries to publicly commit a specific number of troops to the planned stabilisation force. Burundi, meanwhile, has not yet announced a final decision and continues to assess its potential role.
Both Uganda and Burundi have established records as contributors to multinational security operations on the African continent. Uganda has long deployed soldiers to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia and other regional efforts, while Burundi has similarly supplied personnel to United Nations and African Union operations in countries including the Central African Republic. Their engagement on a mission outside Africa reflects the growing international search for troop contributors as the proposed Gaza force takes shape.
The broader plan envisions an international security presence of around 20,000 personnel, according to the figures cited by Africanews. Israeli officials have been holding a series of bilateral meetings with potential contributing countries as part of efforts to assemble the multinational deployment, which would operate in a post-conflict environment marked by significant humanitarian and reconstruction needs.
Diplomatic engagement between Israel and African nations on security cooperation has expanded in recent years, with several countries on the continent deepening ties with Jerusalem across political, military and economic channels. Uganda and Israel have maintained longstanding relations, while Burundi’s diplomatic posture toward Israel has shifted in recent years as both countries have revisited bilateral engagement.
As the international community continues to map out the structure and mandate of the proposed force, the decisions by Uganda and Burundi will likely be watched closely by other potential African contributors and by the diplomatic actors coordinating the wider effort.
Sources
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