Uganda and Burundi are among the African countries exploring ways to contribute to a potential international mission in the Gaza Strip, aimed at supporting efforts to end the fighting and help rebuild the Palestinian territory.
Last week, delegations of senior military officials from both countries visited Israel, where they held preliminary discussions on how their respective countries could participate in the proposed peacekeeping mission in Gaza.
The initiative is part of a plan promoted by United States President Donald Trump, which seeks to establish a ceasefire, improve security and pave the way for reconstruction and development in Gaza.
According to information released by an official from the “Board of Peace,” an organization involved in overseeing the initiative, Uganda has reached the stage of preparing to deploy troops after its Parliament approved the country’s participation in the mission.
Uganda could potentially deploy up to 1,200 troops if the discussions and preparations progress successfully. The country already has extensive experience in international peacekeeping missions across Africa.
For Burundi, a senior military official said a delegation of three high-ranking officers travelled to Israel. He confirmed that Bujumbura is interested in participating in the Gaza mission, but said preparations in Burundi are still at an early stage.
Despite the talks initiated by Uganda and Burundi, several issues remain unresolved, including the exact responsibilities that would be assigned to the troops and how the overall mission would be implemented.
The two countries are not alone in expressing interest in contributing to the mission.
Morocco, Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania are also among the countries reportedly considering providing troops.
Overall, the proposed mission could involve up to 20,000 troops. It would be led by Major General Jasper Jeffers of the United States.
The troops deployed to Gaza would reportedly be tasked with monitoring compliance with a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, assisting in the training of Palestinian security forces, and helping ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in need.
However, the deployment of the troops has not yet begun.
For now, the process remains in the preparatory stage, as negotiations aimed at achieving a lasting cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas continue.
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