MOGADISHU, Somalia – At least two African Union [AU] soldiers have been injured in an explosion in southern Somalia on Sunday, September 8, 2019, Garowe Online reports.

The AU mission in Somalia [AMISOM] confirmed that two of its soldiers from Burundian contingent were wounded in IED explosion near a military base in Burane village in the volatile Middle Shabelle region.

The area lies about 30 kilometers west of Mahaday district that is under Somali government control.

Meanwhile, Somali-based al-Qaeda affiliated group Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack, saying that it had killed five Burundian soldiers in the attacks.

The country’s National Army and AMISOM forces have been subject to frequent attacks by al-Shabab as the group loses ground to ongoing joint military operations, including US airstrikes in southern Somalia.

Al-Shabab remains in control of large parts of central and southern Somalia despite defeats and continues to stage deadly car bombings and gun attacks in the capital, Mogadishu and elsewhere.

GAROWE ONLINE