Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Somalia

SOMALIA/MOGADISHU: NIGHT OF FIGHTING, AU PEACEKEEPING BASES ATTACKED

At least five people were killed and ten injured in a series of attacks by insurgents against bases set up by the African Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) in Mogadishu. According to local sources, last night's attacks were the most "violent" in days and the tolls are still preliminary. The heavy fighting continued into the night, keeping the population awake and "colouring the sky red", as a witness told the Somali Radio Shabelle. The northern areas of Mogadishu, particularly the Hotel Jubba and Bondhere neighbourhood, were theatre to the heaviest fighting. Two main insurgents groups opposed to the Transitional federal government in the past days announced an alliance, while the United Nations Security Council approved the deployment of reinforcements to the AU mission in Somalia.

[BO]