Al-Shabaab attacks AMISOM base with motor shells, no casualties

Al-Shabaab militants fired mortars outside a military camp of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in El Baraf area of Middle Shabelle region on Sunday, without causing casualty,

The AU mission said on its twitter account that three motor shells fired by Al-Shabaab fighters landed outside the camp on Sunday but caused no casualties.

Motor shells fire have been fired from outside of the village though the attack caused panic among nearby villagers but no damage or injury was caused  and AMISOM troops respond  fire and suspects fled,” it said.

A local resident who ask anonymity has said several mortars landed on the AMISOM base, but it was not immediately clear whether anyone had been killed or wounded in the attack.

Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility, saying the shelling killed several AU soldiers.

“We attacked the Burundian military base in El Baraf area with mortar shells today. at least seven shells landed inside the station,” Al Shabaab said in a statement posted on its affiliated websites.

Al-Shabaab fighters who want to overthrow the internationally recognized Somali government were pushed out of Mogadishu by African Union peacekeeping forces in 2011.

AU troops are helping the Somali government forces to battle Al-Shabaab fighters, who have carried out frequent attacks in the country.

Al-Shabaab vowed to disrupt Somalia’s first election in more than four decades.

The country is recovering from two decade old civil war which erupted in 1990 after 21 years of ruling by late Mohamed Siyad who took the power by military coup.