Mogadishu, Somalia | By Michael Wandati | Two soldiers from the African Union (AU) were killed, and one other was injured in a mortar attack carried out by the militant group al-Shabab on Sunday. The assault targeted their base located within the secure zone of Mogadishu’s International Airport.
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) condemned the attack in a statement released by its head, Mohamed El-Amine Souef, who also serves as the Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson. The facility, known as Halane Base Camp, was struck with at least four mortar rounds. The attack is believed to have involved a 107mm rocket.
ATMIS expressed its sorrow over the loss and reiterated its commitment to supporting Somalia’s peace and security efforts in the face of such continued threats.
“The heinous attack will not deter us and the Somali security forces from pursuing lasting peace and in Somalia,” Souef said in the statement posted on X, formerly Twitter. “We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to combat terrorism and build a peaceful and prosperous Somalia.”
The statement did not specify the nationality of the soldiers killed, but an AU official told VOA’s Horn of Africa that the soldiers who were killed and the one soldier injured are Ugandans.
“ATMIS extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to the families, friends, and relatives of those who lost their lives and wishes a quick recovery to those injured during the attack,” Souef said.
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Following the mortar attack on the African Union base in Mogadishu, senior AU officials visited the scene of the explosion to assess the damage.
The al-Shabab militant group later claimed responsibility for the assault, issuing a statement on one of its websites in which it asserted that the mortars had killed both “white and black officers.”
Although al-Shabab was driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, the group continues to sporadically launch mortar attacks targeting the city’s airport, which serves as a hub for the African Union and several foreign embassies.
In addition to these military installations, al-Shabab has also directed mortar fire at residential areas within Mogadishu, resulting in civilian casualties.
