MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militants on Friday attacked base housing Ugandan African Union peacekeepers in south Somalia ahead of planned offensive by troops from neighboring countries of Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya.
The militants used vehicles loaded with explosives to blast their way into the heavily fortified base in the town of Bulomareer, some 120km south of the capital Mogadishu.
In a statement, Al-Shabaab rebels said they had killed 139 Ugandan peacekeepers, destroyed military vehicles and seized weapons. Images released by the group showed Ugandan soldiers captured as prisoners of war and tanks destroyed in the dawn raid.
African Union mission in Somalia, in a statement, said the situation returned to normal and warplanes belonging to the “international partners” had helped destroy military vehicles used by the attackers, but did not give details about the casualties.
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