AU forces vow action after deadly Somalia attack

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Despite the endless Al-Shabaab attacks in Somalia, the AU Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] has vowed to ensure it, partners, closely with Somali National Army [SNA] with an aim of pursuing peace within the country which is currently under huge trouble.

The statement comes at the time Somalia is mourning the death of close to 22 people who were killed while traveling on trucks carrying food within the Hiiraan region on Friday night. Most of those killed, the government said, were innocent civilians.

While condemning the militants who targeted the trucks which were supplying food and water, ATMIS insisted that there urgent need for the soldiers to coordinate operations across the country by targeting some of the hideouts of the militants.

"ATMIS commiserates with the families of those killed and remains committed to working with Somali security forces towards peace and security in Somalia," the AU mission said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

The attack along Beledweyne and Mahas within HirShabelle also comes just a month after the militants killed over 20 people within Mogadishu in a high-end hotel. The Hayaat Hotel attack was equally condemned globally by various stakeholders.

ATMIS has been coordinating operations against the militants in central and southern Somalia, with the team managing to liberate a number of strategic towns. Sources intimate that the attack in the Hiiraan region was triggered by gains made by the military within the state of HirShabelle.

While 18 people died instantly where the vehicles were burnt, five more were killed by roadside explosions as they rushed to rescue those calling for help. The militants admitted carrying out the attacks within the region, but could not expound on their target.

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia has been in place since 2007 when Al-Shabaab first attacked Mogadishu. The team which comprises troops from Kenya, Ethiopia, Burundi, Djibouti, and Uganda has, however, managed to liberate several strategic towns in the country.

GAROWE ONLINE