There are fears that anarchy will return without the peacekeepers
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Burundi has offered to contribute to the proposed African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, following an AU appeal for soldiers.
Foreign Minister Antoinette Batumubwira told the BBC that Burundi could send up to 1,000 troops.
The AU has struggled to raise the 8,000 troops it wants to send to Somalia, to replace Ethiopian soldiers, who have started to withdraw.
Earlier, Malawi denied reports that it had agreed to contribute.
Meanwhile, a protest against their deployment has been held in an ex-Islamist stronghold in the capital.
Analysts fear that unless the growing insecurity in the country is contained quickly, Somalia will slip back to the anarchic misrule which has prevailed in the country for the past 16 years.
Ethiopia says it is still seeking an early withdrawal, despite slow progress in drumming up enough peacekeepers.
Confusion
The AU says it has 4,000 of the 8,000 peacekeepers needed for Somalia but it is not clear if that figure includes the Burundi offer.
Uganda has offered 1,500 troops, subject to parliamentary approval expected next week.
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POSSIBLE PEACEKEEPERS
Nine battalions proposed - 7,600 troops:
Uganda: 1,500 troops offered, subject to parliamentary approval
Nigeria: Troops offered
Ghana: Troops offered
Burundi: 1,000 troops offered
Malawi: Considering
Benin: Considering Tanzania: Considering
Rwanda: Considering
South Africa: Not sending troops
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Nigeria and Ghana have also both agreed to contribute, although exact numbers are not known.
Malawi's defence minister had said the country was willing to send troops but this has been denied by President Bingu wa Mutharika
"A decision has not been taken," the president said.
"We have not discussed this in the cabinet, neither have we consulted the various stake-holders in Malawi like the opposition and others who must be consulted in an issue like this one."
In the Somali capital, Mogadishu, the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan said some 200 people demonstrated against a peacekeeping force on Thursday morning in the north-east of the city.
They shouted angry and slogans and placards read: "We don't want foreign troops" and "Down with Ethiopia", reports the AP news agency.
Other have also protested about the detention in Kenya of Islamist financier, Abukar Omar Adan, 72.
Meanwhile, the former speaker of the parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan - sacked two weeks ago - has told the BBC that the election of his successor was illegal.
Mr Adan, who is currently in neighbouring Djibouti, was removed for having unauthorised talks with the Islamists, who ruled much of Somalia until last month.
He had also opposed Ethiopia's military intervention to help the government drive out the Islamic group.
His dismissal was criticised by the United States saying it went against the spirit of reconciliation needed in Somalia and it was likely to have a negative impact on dialogue.
Our correspondent says that because of increasing insecurity martial law is being imposed country - putting all powers into the hands of the president for the next three months.
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