BUJUMBURA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Burundi said Wednesday that 10 of its peacekeepers were killed and five others missing in an attack early Tuesday by al-Shabab on a post of Burundian soldiers at Ceel Baraf, Shabelle region, Somalia.
Twenty-five Burundian soldiers were also injured in the attack, Army spokesman Col. Floribert Biyereke said in the statement.
"Around 5:00 a.m. (03:00 GMT), heavily armed al Shabaab terrorists attacked a post held by Burundian peacekeepers of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS)," he said. "Violent fighting caused casualties on both sides."
Biyereke said 20 Shabab militants were killed in the encounter.
"It is clear that al Shabaab's objective is to disrupt efforts of the ATMIS to restore peace on the whole territory of Somalia," he said.
"Despite the terrorist group's plan to sabotage deployed efforts, the Burundian contingent is determined to bring its contribution for the restoration of sustainable peace and stability in Somalia." Biyereke said.
He extended condolences to the families of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for international peace and stability.
Burundi is among the largest contributors of peacekeepers to Somalia to help the war-torn country battle al Shabab as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which changed its name to ATMIS in April. ■