Burundian Forces in Middle Shabelle Safely Evacuated From Floods- AUSSOM

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MIDDLE SHABELLE: The African Union force in Somalia has said all Burundian troops who had been marooned by floods in the Lower Shabelle region have been safely evacuated.

The AU Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) said in a statement the forces were safely evacuated, adding that a helicopter that had been affected was also flown to safety.

The statement follows widespread reports that the forces were attacked by Al-Shabaab which also broke the banks of a nearby river to flood the area where the AU forces were based.

“During the evacuation on Monday, one of the helicopters experienced a technical malfunction. However, despite this challenge, the pilots skillfully maneuvered the aircraft to land safely,” the statement read in part. It added, “All troops and crew have been successfully evacuated to the nearest military base, and no casualties have been reported.”