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Suicide Bombing Targets AMISOM Base in Mogadishu


Suicide Bombing Targets AMISOM Base in Mogadishu
Suicide Bombing Targets AMISOM Base in Mogadishu

The African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia says two of its soldiers have been wounded in a suicide attack in the capital, Mogadishu.

In an interview with VOA's Somali Service, an AU spokesman said three attackers drove a truck filled with explosives toward a new AU peacekeeping base Tuesday, prompting soldiers to open fire.

The spokesman, Major Barigye Ba-Huko, says AU forces destroyed the truck before it reached its target, killing all three people inside. He says two soldiers were wounded when the explosion went off.

Major Ba-Huko says the AU mission had received information about a possible attack on the new base about three days ago and peacekeepers were ready for it.

The Associated Press says the al-Qaida linked rebel group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Al-Shabab and other Islamic insurgent groups control much of Mogadishu along with large parts of southern and central Somalia. The groups are fighting to impose a strict form of sharia, or Islamic law, on the country.

AU peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi are supporting the government and frequently clash with the insurgents.

War-torn Somalia has not had a stable central government since 1991.

* You can listen to the full interview of the AMISOM spokesperson gave to Harun Maruf from the audio link.

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