MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A series of mortar rounds struck Halane base camp, a heavily fortified compound adjacent to Mogadishu’s international airport, early Monday, in the latest sign of deteriorating security in the Somali capital.
At least five mortar shells landed inside the perimeter of the base, which houses United Nations offices, Western diplomatic missions, and African Union forces. The blasts, heard across large swathes of Mogadishu, underscore the growing reach of the al Qaeda-linked militant group al Shabaab, which has intensified attacks amid government setbacks elsewhere in the country.
It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties or which installations within the base camp were targeted.
The attack follows a recent string of similar incidents targeting the base, once considered among the most secure locations in Somalia. The frequency of such strikes has increased in recent weeks, coinciding with mounting military pressure on government forces in central regions and reported lapses in urban security operations.
The surge in attacks has raised questions about the effectiveness of recent orders from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who earlier this month warned senior security officials of dismissals and legal consequences should further attacks occur in the capital. Despite the warning, mortar strikes have continued unabated, exposing persistent vulnerabilities in Mogadishu’s security architecture.
No one has immediately claimed responsibility for the latest incident, but the militant group Al-Shabaab has previously launched similar indirect fire assaults on high-profile targets in the capital as part of its broader campaign to topple the internationally backed government.
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