Somali government and UN condemn the attack on AMISOM base in Janaale

Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, have separately condoled with the families of African Union peace-keeping mission (AMISOM) troops following the attack on AU military base in Janaale locality on Tuesday morning.

“We are determined to pursue our primary goal which is to wipe out the remaining small terrorist group who are geared to killing and maiming innocent people from the little pockets they are in the country,” said the Prime Minister.

Elsewhere Kay said that the United Nations remains resolute in its support for the Somali people.

“Our solidarity with the African Union Mission in Somalia and Somali security forces in their efforts to defeat Al-Shabab and build
peace and stability will not waver,” he said.

A Somali military official in the Lower Shabelle region told the media Tuesday morning Al-Shabab fighters had ambushed the base killing a number of soldiers after blowing up two bridges connecting the base.

Qoryooley district commissioner, Mohamed Haji told Goobjoog News the militants used a donkey cart loaded with explosives to blow up the bridges effectively cutting off the base.

“The militants blew up the bridge in the town using a donkey cart loaded with explosives and it is difficult to access the other side of the town,” said the commissioner.

AU backed force in Somalia, AMISOM has also said it is yet to confirm the casualty figures of the Janale military base following an Al-Shabaab ambush this morning.

In a statement to the media, AMISOM spokesman Lt Col Paul Njuguna also confirmed the attack saying that the militants used a car loaded with explosives to trigger the attack and to facilitate their forced entry into the camp after which they engaged Ugandan soldiers under AMISOM in a gun-battle.
Njuguna said AMISOM forces have since regained control of the base after earlier withdrawal.

“Although our troops undertook a tactical withdrawal following the initial vehicle borne explosive attack, they have since consolidated and regained full control of the base,” said Njuguna.