AMISOM searches for a soldier after he goes mission near Qoryooley town

African Union Mission In Somalia (AMISOM) has confirmed that one of its soldiers has gone missing from the military camp in Qoryoley town in Lower Shabelle region.

AMISOM said it is on the hunt for one of its soldiers who deserted AMISOM’s defensive position at Qoryooley.

In a statement on its twitter count, AU body said once it was realized he was missing a search party traced his footsteps for about 3km from the camp before disappearing in thickets.

“All efforts to locate him went on all day. AMISOM will continue with the search to find this missing soldier,” said the Mission on Thursday.

The soldier has not been named but is said to be from the Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF).

Al-Shabaab in a statement posted on pro-Alshabaab website said their fighters captured AU soldier in a special operation near Qoryooley town.

The Group said they had paraded him in Barire and Awdhegle towns in Lower Shabelle region.

Previously, Al Shabaab has captured six soldiers from Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) after a massive bomb and gun attack on AMISOM’s military base in Janaale district in Lower Shabelle region in September 2015.

Although Al-Shabaab was ousted from its bases in Mogadishu in 2011, its fighters continue to stage lethal attacks across the seaside city and other towns.