Hiiraan Online
Tuesday, May 03, 2016
MOGADISHU (HOL) – Suspected militants from the Al-Qaeda linked group targeted the largest African Union military base in the Somali capital with mortar shells, the latest in series of attacks by the group which continues guerrilla attacks across large parts of south and central Somalia, officials said Tuesday.
The Halane base camp, supposedly the most secure area in Mogadishu and home to the United Nations offices and western embassies has been hit by previous attacks by Al Shabab.
Joseph Kibet, a spokesman for the 22000-strong force confirmed the mortar attacks, saying that shell fires hit in open grounds around the heavily fortified base.
No causalities have so far been reported, however, the attack underlines the security challenges facing Somali government and African Union forces that are struggling to secure the capital.
Residents who live near Mogadishu airport reported sounds of blasts as mortars struck the African Union base on Monday night.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, however, Al Shabab group often carries out such attacks.
The attack comes one day after the UK prime minister David Cameron David Cameron announced that dozens of British troops were to be sent to Somalia to help peacekeeping efforts to counter Islamist rebels.
Last month, Somali police seized several mortars used to shell Somali capital along with two suspected militants in a minibus that suspected militants used to launch mortar shells that hit parts of the seaside city.
Militant fighters often vehicle-mounted mortars to launch attacks across the seaside city. Despite losing key strongholds, Al-Shabab remains a security threat to the horn of Africa nation which is struggling to recover from decades of war.