FILE PHOTO
A mortar round launched by al-Shabab struck a base inside the confines of Mogadishu’s international airport on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of two African Union soldiers and injuring another.
Mohamed El-Amine Souef, the head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, expressed deep condemnation for the assault on the Halane Base Camp. Speaking on behalf of ATMIS, he noted, “This brutal attack will not dissuade us or the Somali security forces from striving for enduring peace in Somalia.” He shared these sentiments in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, adding, “We stand firm in our dedication to combating terrorism and fostering a peaceful and thriving Somalia.”
While the statement did not clarify the soldiers’ nationalities, an AU source revealed to VOA’s Horn of Africa that both those killed and the injured soldier were Ugandan nationals.
“ATMIS conveys its heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the deceased and wishes a swift recovery to the injured,” Souef remarked.
After the incident, a senior team from the AU visited the blast site to assess the aftermath.
The militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting in a statement posted on one of its platforms that the mortars targeted “both white and black officers.”
Despite being ousted from Mogadishu back in 2011, al-Shabab occasionally manages to launch mortar attacks on the airport, which serves as a hub for both the AU and various foreign embassies.
Moreover, al-Shabab mortars have not only targeted military installations but have also struck residential neighborhoods in Mogadishu, sadly leading to civilian casualties.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
