AU troops in clash with Somali soldiers were transporting bomb victims-Amisom

Amisom soldiers who were involved in a deadly fire confrontation with Somali forces Friday were ferrying victims of the twin attacks to hospital inside the UN facility in Mogadishu, Amisom has said.

In a statement Saturday, Amisom said it had launched investigations into the incident which at least two Somali soldiers died and others injured. Civilians were also injured in the gunfight which ensued at the NISA manned checkpoint at KM 4 area heading to the airport.

“Following their heroic intervention, while transporting injured civilians to the AMISOM Level II Hospital, the AMISOM Quick Reaction Forces were involved in an incident at a NISA checkpoint near KM4,” Amisom said. “The incident is under investigation by both the Federal government of Somalia and AMISOM.”

An incident report from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) directed blame at the Amisom soldiers who failed to follow directives and went on to open fire at the NISA officers. NISA said the Amisom forces did not honor directions to use the Marine Gate near the Police academy since Medina Gate was closed as is procedurally after 5pm local time every day.

“All the 9 AU armoured vehicles forced their way past the NISA checkpoint wrecking the boom gates, damaging property while killing and wounding NISA soldiers and civilians,” the report read in part.

The report records three casualties among the NISA officers and four civilians.