AMISOM UPDATE

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission for Somalia Mr. Nicolas Bwakira Friday visited injured peacekeepers and Somali civilians following Thursday’s suicide attacks on AMISOM base in Mogadishu. At least 21 people comprising 4 Somalis, 5 Ugandans and 12

Burundians have so far been confirmed dead . The figure includes AMISOM Deputy Force Commander Major General Juvenal Niyoyunguruza . 40 others were injured during the incident and so far 26 of them have been evacuated to a hospital in Nairobi for further medical attention .

At around 12:00hrs on Thursday, Al-Shabaab insurgents launched a suicide attack on AMISOM Force Headquarters and a DynCorp office in Mogadishu within the vicinity of the Aden Abdulle International Airport. The attackers are said to have rammed through the compound gate in two vehicles believed to have been stolen from the UN in Baidoa or Jowhar a few months ago.

One of the vehicles focused its attack on the Force Headquarters while the other one targeted a DynCorp office located in the area. The attack was carried out as a high level TFG/AMISOM security meeting was ending. Following the explosions, insurgents in the area launched a mortar attack to maximize the number of casualties.

AMISOM strongly condemns these barbaric attacks on its peacekeepers and the people of Somalia. AMISOM reiterates that the AU remains resolute in its commitment to support the Somali people and the TFG in the peace and reconciliation  efforts.

Gaffel G. Nkolokosa Public Information Officer African Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) 2nd Floor, KUSCCO Centre Kilimanjaro Road ,Upper Hill P.O. Box 20182-00200 Nairobi ,Kenya Tel : +254 202713756 Mobile: +254 732336478