There has been a gun battle between Al Shabaab militants and AU troops at the AU base in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu.
The incident happen early Friday Morning after the militants rammed a car with explosives into the AU troops base South of the capital Mogadishu.
The Attack happened as residents gathered for their morning prayers as they observe the holy month of Ramadhan.
“A car bomb rammed into the AU base in Leego and this was followed by heavy exchange of gunfire,” Major Nur Olow, a military officer, told Reuters. “First, AU forces opened fire at the speeding car bomb. The car forced its way in.”
Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, a spokesman for the al Qaeda-aligned group, said the militants had rammed the car bomb into the base and that “heavy fighting goes on inside the base.”
The AU is yet to comment on the matter. Meanshile there has not been any information about casualties.
This was the latest of several attacks by the Islamic militants, fighting to overthrow the Western-backed Mogadishu government, since the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan began a week ago.
Additional security had been deployed for Ramadan, as officials had warned of a heightened security risk as Al Shabaab’s fighters have often launched attacks during this period.
The attack comes barely two days after the militants attacked a UAE aid convoy, believed to have included ambassador to Somalia Mohammed Ahmed Othman Al Hammadi .
The attack happened in Mogadishu on Wednesday.
The UAE nationals were unhurt, but three Somali citizens were killed and several others were wounded in the attack carried out by Islamist militant group Al Shabaab.
UAE minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash condemned the attack and also confirmed that none of the UAE aid workers were wounded.
