US warns citizens to leave Mogadishu, cites threats on personnel

The US Mission in Somalia has directed none essential staff to leave Mogadishu following what it termed as specific threats to US citizens in the city.

“Due to specific threat information against U.S. personnel on the Mogadishu International Airport, the U.S. Mission to Somalia has directed its non-essential U.S. citizen employees to depart Mogadishu until further notice,” a statement from the Mission Saturday said.

The Mission noted the security situation in Somalia was extremely unstable and ‘and the threat to all U.S. citizens in Somalia remains critical.’

The travel warning also urges US citizens who decide to remain in the country to review their security plans and take appropriate steps to enhance personal safety. The warning follows deadly twin attacks in Mogadishu in mid and late October which claimed over 400 lives and maimed hundreds others.

The US African Command said Friday it carried out two separate airstrikes in northern Somalia (Buqacaleed some 60km north of Qandala town) killing three ISIS terrorists. A break-away faction from Al-Shabaab led by former British based preacher Abdulqadir Mumin declared allegiance to the Islamic State in 2015.

ISIS captured the ancient port town of Qandala last October in what was the first of its control of areas before it was kicked out by Puntland forces in December.

Africom said the first strike was carried out at midnight local time and another one at 11 a.m. on Nov. 3.

The US State Department issued a new travel warning January 11 this year warning against travel to Somalia ‘because of continuous activity by the al-Qaida affiliated terrorist group, al-Shabaab.’