Al-Shabaab attack on ATMIS base: what we know so far

May 26, 2023

They used vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and suicide bombers for the early morning raid, ATMIS said in a statement.

Al-Shabaab attack on ATMIS base: what we know so far

Charles Etukuri
Senior Writer @New Vision

At around 5am on Friday, an African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) base came under attack by Al-Shabaab militants.

They used vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and suicide bombers for the early morning raid, ATMIS said in a statement.

What followed was an exchange between the terrorists and ATMIS soldiers.

The attack happened at the ATMIS Forward Operating Base in Buulo Mareer, about 120km southwest of Somalia's capital Mogadishu in the Lower Shabelle region.

"Reinforcements from ATMIS Aviation Unit and allies managed to destroy weapons in possession of the withdrawing militants," said ATMIS.

"ATMIS would like to assure the public and all other entities in the country [Somalia] that everything is being done to bring the situation under control.

"The mission remains committed in its fight against terrorism and will continue working closely with the Federal Government of Somalia, the federal member states and other international partners in securing Somalia against Al-Shabaab and other armed groups."

No details of the casualties nor the nature of destruction was mentioned in the statement.

Earlier on Friday, Ugandan defence deputy spokesperson Col Deo Akiiki confirmed the attack on the ATMIS base.

In a statement, the Al-Shabaab claimed it had killed 137 troops at the ATMIS base, destroyed military equipment and also taken weapons and personnel from the raided camp.

These claims could not be verified.

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