A military base manned by African Union forces from Uganda in southern Somalia was stormed by Al-Shabaab militants in the early hours of Friday morning. The base, situated in Bulo Marer, around 110 kilometers south of Mogadishu, came under attack when the militants detonated several explosions including improvised bombs. After the blasts, a fierce firefight ensued resulting in the militants penetrating the perimeter of the base. According to reports, the militants were also seen inside the nearby town. There were no immediate reports of casualties. This is not the first time the base has been attacked, with an Al-Shabaab attack in April 2018 also being reported. At that time, the militants were repelled by the Ugandan forces, with dozens of militants losing their lives.
The African Union military command and the Somali government have not yet commented on the recent attack. However, the AU mission has confirmed the attack and also stated that the security situation is being assessed.
This latest attack comes as the Somali government prepares for the second phase of military operations against Al-Shabaab. The first phase, which was launched in August, saw Al-Shabaab driven from vast territories in central Somalia. The Somali government plans to raise enough forces to take over security responsibilities from the AU peacekeepers by December 2024.
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