Militants attack African Union base, nine dead

Nairobi, December 26

Gunmen attacked the African Union’s main base in the Somali capital of Mogadishu leading to an exchange of gunfire between militants and soldiers that killed at least nine people, including three soldiers, an official with the mission in Somalia said.

Three militants were captured during the Christmas day lunch hour attack on the African Union Mission to Somalia’s Halane base camp, the group said in a statement.

AMISOM said the gunmen, some of whom were disguised in Somali army uniforms, breached the base camp and attempted to gain access to critical infrastructure yesterday, during which five of them were killed and three others captured.

Three AMISOM soldiers and a civilian contractor unfortunately lost their lives, AMISOM said.

Somali extremist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack and said they were targeting a Christmas party at the base, which also houses Western embassies and UN offices.

At least eight men entered the AU base near the Mogadishu airport, AU Mission in Somalia spokesman Col. Ali Aden Houmed told The Associated Press. He said the base was now calm.

“Our forces shot dead three of them, two detonated themselves near a fuel depot,” he said. “An investigation is underway on how they entered the base,” he said, adding that the attack was launched at a time when people were busy at lunch. — AP