Ugandans killed in Mogadishu
Sep 15, 2008
TWO Ugandan soldiers serving on the peace keeping mission in Somalia were killed in two separate attacks in Mogadishu in two days.
By Steven Candia
TWO Ugandan soldiers serving on the peace keeping mission in Somalia were killed in two separate attacks in Mogadishu in two days.
One of the soldiers serving on the Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was killed in a morning attack yesterday. The other was killed on Sunday.
Two other soldiers were injured in yesterdays attack on an AMISOM convoy.
The army declined to reveal the identities of the soldiers killed.
“We condemn in the strongest terms possible these barbaric and unwarranted attacks on our peace-keeping troops.
“We call upon all peace-loving Somalis to condemn these acts and to rally behind the Djibouti Peace Initiative,†AMISOM spokesperson Maj. Barigye Ba-Hoku said in a statement.
He said the attacks would not sway its resolve to continue with its mission in the war-torn country.
The attack, which took place on the K4-Airport Road, just after the UNDP compound, was carried out by unknown elements using small arms from roof tops.
“AMISOM troops once again acted professionally and restrained themselves from firing into buildings that are known to be inhabited by the civilian population,†Barigye said.
“Those injured received initial treatment from our Field Hospital. Both the injured and the dead were later flown to Uganda,†he said.
Army spokesperson Maj. Paddy Ankunda yesterday afternoon said only one body had arrived.
In May last year, four Ugandan soldiers died and five others were injured in Mogadishu when a roadside bomb, suspected to have been planted by Islamic insurgents, exploded.
Another Ugandan soldier died in April in cross-fire with militia fighters.
The latest incidents come as Somalia’s hardline Islamist militia, Al-Shebab, yesterday issued an ultimatum ordering all traffic in and out of Mogadishu airport to cease as of Tuesday.
The militants said the airport was being used by Uganda and Burundi to bring in more “occupiersâ€.
TWO Ugandan soldiers serving on the peace keeping mission in Somalia were killed in two separate attacks in Mogadishu in two days.
One of the soldiers serving on the Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was killed in a morning attack yesterday. The other was killed on Sunday.
Two other soldiers were injured in yesterdays attack on an AMISOM convoy.
The army declined to reveal the identities of the soldiers killed.
“We condemn in the strongest terms possible these barbaric and unwarranted attacks on our peace-keeping troops.
“We call upon all peace-loving Somalis to condemn these acts and to rally behind the Djibouti Peace Initiative,†AMISOM spokesperson Maj. Barigye Ba-Hoku said in a statement.
He said the attacks would not sway its resolve to continue with its mission in the war-torn country.
The attack, which took place on the K4-Airport Road, just after the UNDP compound, was carried out by unknown elements using small arms from roof tops.
“AMISOM troops once again acted professionally and restrained themselves from firing into buildings that are known to be inhabited by the civilian population,†Barigye said.
“Those injured received initial treatment from our Field Hospital. Both the injured and the dead were later flown to Uganda,†he said.
Army spokesperson Maj. Paddy Ankunda yesterday afternoon said only one body had arrived.
In May last year, four Ugandan soldiers died and five others were injured in Mogadishu when a roadside bomb, suspected to have been planted by Islamic insurgents, exploded.
Another Ugandan soldier died in April in cross-fire with militia fighters.
The latest incidents come as Somalia’s hardline Islamist militia, Al-Shebab, yesterday issued an ultimatum ordering all traffic in and out of Mogadishu airport to cease as of Tuesday.
The militants said the airport was being used by Uganda and Burundi to bring in more “occupiersâ€.