MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Al-Shabaab militants on Tuesday published images purporting to show the wreckage of a Burundian African Union (AU) helicopter they claim to have shot down during the evacuation of peacekeepers from the strategic town of Hawadley, seized by the insurgents a day earlier.
The photos, circulated on militant-affiliated channels, depict fighters standing atop and inside the remains of the aircraft in an area near Hawadley, approximately 50 kilometers north of Mogadishu. The group asserted it had targeted the helicopter as Burundian troops withdrew—a claim contradicting the AU mission’s earlier statement attributing the crash to a “technical malfunction.”
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) had confirmed the incident but maintained that all crew members were safely extracted to a nearby base.
Hawadley’s capture marks a significant tactical gain for the militants, granting them control over a crucial river-crossing town housing a vital bridge linking central and southern Somalia. The seizure reinforces mounting evidence that insurgents are tightening their encirclement of Mogadishu, having already overrun multiple towns—including several with key bridge access points to the capital.
The downing of the helicopter, whether by hostile fire or mechanical failure, underscores the deteriorating security landscape as Somali forces, backed by AU troops, struggle to contain Al-Shabaab’s relentless advance.
Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com
